Eve has had a tough life., she grew up up in the poorest part of town, daughter to a violent, meth addicted mother with only her older brother to give her comfort and stability. When she becomes pregnant at 18 from a one night stand, she swears to do everything right by her baby.
When her 12 year old daughter Junie and her best friend are murdered in the park, Eve swears vengeance. Unlike most books, she doesn't know more than the police and struggles to find answers, which I found quite refreshing. I don't think Eve is someone I'd be friends with in real life, but she's a character I respected the hell out of...for the most part. (There were a few choices/decisions she made where I wanted to reach into the pages of my book and give her a hard shake!)
The Familiar Dark absolutely tore me apart! I read it in one afternoon, and could not put it down. There were a few twists which I felt were quite unnecessary, but on the whole, this was a fantastic read!
I hadn't read anything by Amy Engel before, but because she writes her characters with such authenticity and heart, I will go out of my way to find, and read, more of her books!
I give this 4.5 stars out of a possible 5
I received an ARC from NetGalley and PENGUIN Group Dutton in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

The Familiar Dark is a quick moving, gritty book that pulled me in at once. How does a parent deal with their child's murder; how far will they go for vengeance? Having come from a similar background as Eve, I identified immediately with Eve's hard-as-nails mother and the supportive brother that has helped her maintain some semblance of normal life since Eve left home, pregnant with her daughter. Now that the one bright light in her life is gone, she sees just how easy it is to return to "the familiar dark" as she seeks the murderer. Who it is, and what Eve does to exact justice is shocking. Book clubs will have plenty to discuss after reading this novel!

The Familiar Dark is a gripping. character-driven thriller following a mom who will stop at nothing to find out the truth of what happened when her daughter is murdered on a playground. The setting of the Missouri Ozarks is so lively that it feels like a character itself. Engel's writing is outstanding. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a character-driven thriller or if you enjoyed The Roanoke Girls.

[ BOOK REVIEW ] *not spoiling*
Although there are many good crime and thriller novels available, hardly any devote a great part of the story to the pain and process a victim’s mother goes through. In The Familiar Dark 📖 main protagonist Eve, coming from an unkind, cold childhood – has lived up to her promise: she will not repeat the mistakes her mother had made. She would love her daughter Junie with all her heart, provide her with a stable home, food on the table, attention and make her feel loved.

When her daughter is killed (happens right at the start, not-spoiling) – this, leaves a hole in Eve’s world. But she’s a fighter & giving in, isn’t her way. She goes on a hunt for the killer.
Amy Engel has written this novel so well, portraying unexpected loss, she has a special way to bring a character to life, bit by bit – the more I kept reading, the more it felt as if I’d known Eve for a long time.

Halfway-through, the book had me in tears. Because Engel’s characters feel real, the pain they cause to each other, their soft spots cocooned in a whirlwind of anger, always afraid that showing their empathetic side would give room for getting hurt.
This is one of the rare (let’s call it) “thriller” novels that I’d recommend also to readers who usually, prefer general fiction with character-focus.

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel
My Rating: 4 3/4 🌟 out of 5
Recommended and highly so, if you want to read a different thriller novel, focusing on the characters, their background stories & setting (better have tissues at hand)
Publication Date: 31 March 2020

One big thank you! to the dear lady at @duttonbooks who kindly shared the e-book ARC link with me. I had no idea how much this book would speak to me & have ordered The Roanoke Girls (Engel’s earlier work) right away.
Dear Amy Engel, I love this book!

This was absolutely NOT a fun read, but it was compelling as all hell and unputdownable. Even after I saw the end coming, the writing sucked me in and held me in its grip.

After loving The Roanoke Girls, I knew I had to pick up Amy Engel’s next novel. While it wasn’t as amazing as Tne Roanoke Girls, I did really like it. Our main character is strong and easy to empathize with, the secondary cast of. Hat Ayers were also well written and interesting. I actually could not put it down. I’ll be looking forward to whatever she writes next.

THE KEY POINTS OF THE STORY⇣

⬥OZARK MOUNTAINS
⬥MURDER OF TWO TWELVE-YEAR-OLD GIRLS
⬥A MOTHER TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY HER DAUGHTERS MEMORY
⬥LIFE IN THE HOLLAR
⬥TWISTED & A LITTLE TWISTY

STATS⇣

BOOK COVER⇢ It doesn't do the book justice
SETTING⇢ Missouri Ozarks
SOURCE⇢ I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
eBOOK LENGTH⇢ 256 Pages

MY THOUGHTS⇣

What makes a murder mystery a favorite? This is a question I've asked myself quite a few times since I started reading this genre. Seriously, there's not a lot to love about murder. Near as I can come up with...is a book that really affects you in some way, whether it be fear, loathing or one you just can't get out of your head. This book is kind of all three of those, and then some. I also still think about the Roanoke Girls by this same Author. I've rated both 5 stars and they both totally deserve it. Deeply affecting.

I've read a couple of other books that deal with the area of Central to the Eastern United States Mountainous ranges (Winters Bone & The Weight of This World). But, The Familiar Dark has been the best one of all three so far. This book hooked me from the start, I felt like I was on this quest with Eve to solve the murder of her daughter and her daughter's friend. Experiencing everything she experiences, from the lows to the even lower's and even the few highs.

The beginning of this gutted me and the middle had me transfixed and the end left me gasping and in tears...such a gutwrenching story. That is not just superbly written but is also perfectly plotted. I highly recommend.

MY RATING⇢ 5 STARS | GRADE A+

BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 5/5
Characters⇢ 5/5
The Feels⇢ 5/5
Pacing⇢ 5/5
Addictiveness⇢ 5/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 5/5
Originality⇢ 5/5
Ending⇢ 5/5

Another book will shake you to the core, leaving an unforgettable scar at your sole forever, stealing a vulnerable piece of your heart!

In the middle of wilderness, abandoned, neglected town, left behind with its trailer park, an empire of crystal meth, heroine industry with its citizens who turned into wolves wearing human posts.

Welcome to Missouri, Ozarks and meet with our heroine Eve Taggert who grew up with her drug addicted mother and her older brother Cal who did everything to protect and help her survive at this jungle. Now she became a mother of 12 years old Junie, is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her own daughter safe at this thrilling environment. But how long they could survive? A killer is out there, hunting the young girls!
Somebody has to stop him. But who? Who could you trust? She is living in a violent boys’ club kind of community, a group of fathers and husbands who neglect their own families!

Yes, this book is ugly, harsh, disturbing, dark, crude and reading story seems like feeling stab wounds at your chest! It is realistic, depressing, irritating and not for every reader which makes it a quite delicate, unique and outstanding reading.

The two girls of small town were killed. Eve has to use the life lessons her mother told her for scheming her vengeance and wearing her protection armor against the upcoming threats for her own family.

This book is small-burn mystery, captivating your thoughts and enchanting you to a darkest journey. As soon as you involve in you hardly breathe. It’s hard to digest what you read. You’re gonna need more time to absorb the things.

If you’re a fan of whodunit kind of fast reading, this book is not for you. You may sense who the killer is but you keep reading because the world building of the story and the eerie atmosphere, heroine’s strength push you learn more about the story.

It’s remarkably dark but one of the best stories I’ve lately read. If you also enjoy Roanoke Girls, you shouldn’t skip this author’s brand new, fantastic work.

Special thanks to Netgalley and PENGEIN GROUP Dutton to share this powerful book’s ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.

Eve Taggert’s whole world is torn apart when her daughter is murdered on a playground. With the help of her estranged mother, Eve makes it her mission to find the killer and make him or her pay.

I loved so many things about this. The Missouri Ozarks setting is captivating and a character unto itself. The portrayal Eve’s character was believable and heartbreaking, as she processed all the stages of grief. This was a fast read, filled with suspense the entirety, right up to the shocking conclusion.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Dutton Books and Amy Engel for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book shines on every level: sentence after sentence is beautiful and precise. The characters are complicated and sympathetic, the ideas are sweeping and profound, but are never too overt. It’s a rare novel that is as accomplished in its meaning as it is in its storytelling while also succeeding wildly on the language level as well! A novel to lose yourself in and then reflect upon again and again.

Wow, wow, wow! If you don’t like dark books, then this book is likely not for you, but if you are like me and the darker, more disturbing the better, this book is for you! So well written, original, and absolutely riveting. Hard to put down, because it is so well written, even in all the violence it contains. A must read for my fellow dark, disturbing thriller lovers! Must preorder it today, as you will not want to miss it!
Look forward to more by Amy Engel!
Will make sure I buzz this one up!

4.5 stars to this dark and twisty read!

The Familiar Dark is the second novel by Amy Engel that I've read and greatly enjoyed (although enjoyed might not be the best word as both these books feature dark and often depressing storylines). But even so, the author really knows how to create a compelling narrative with strong, well developed characters and setting, and tense drama. The storyline moved at a fast pace that kept me invested in Eve and her quest to uncover the murder of her daughter.

I did notice a typo in chapter 21 where a character who had died is mentioned as having moved someones car that night, which would be impossible as he's dead...It confused me for a while because I thought maybe he wasn't actually dead, but it was never brought up again, so I do think it was just a typo.

I've been sensitive to violence in fiction lately. I'm not sure what it is, but I find I can't stomach it as I used to. Not finishing this one.

First Sentence:

They died during a freak April snowstorm, blood pooling on a patchy bed of white.

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel targets a mother’s grief over the loss of her daughter and the lengths she’ll go to find the truth. Amy Engel is one of my favorite authors. I loved The Roanoke Girls and her Young Adult Series, The Book of Ivy. Needless to say, I was happy to see The Familiar Dark on my future release list.

The story is about two 12-year-old girls and best friends, Julie and Izzy who are found brutally murdered in a park in one of the poorest areas of the Ozarks, Barren Springs. Julie’s mother, Eve Taggert is grief stricken and left wondering what happened; her grief is channeled into obsession, one of finding out just what happened to Julie and Izzy. When Eve begins her own investigation into their murder, the results will be staggering.
As Eve searches for answers to Julie’s murder, parts of her past come back. Things she has done and does aren’t always endearing in a character but there’s an understanding of why Eve goes back to old habits in her grief and anger; she came from much worse. The exploration into life and the criminal element in Barren Springs is expertly written and reminded me of a documentary I’d seen exploring many of the same real-life problems faced in poverty stricken small towns such as this.

The story diverges down many different paths; it is convoluted and twisty, full of possible suspects, and is impossible to put down. One of the best books I’ve read this year!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group – Dutton for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel.

What a edgy, provocative novel about the power of love, anger, and grief within ourselves to motivate us to find what we seek most! Eve is an intricate and well written character. She makes this novel from beginning to end. Don't skip this one! Wonderfully written novel about a parent's love and devotion to find justice.
#TheFamiliarDark
#NetGalley

Abook I could not put down multilayered with twists and turns that eat me racing through the pages An author bI will be following #netgalley#duttonbooks

THE FAMILIAR DARK takes place in one of the poorest portions of the Missouri Ozarks.

The story begins with the death of two 12-year-old girls - Best Friends - Izzy and Junie.

Eve Taggert is a single mother. She has loved her daughter Junie with an intensity that surprised Eve and which began when Junie drew her first tiny breath. On that day, Eve's once wild life was flipped onto it's head. She knew that she had to be a better mother to Junie than her mother had been to her and her brother Cal (short for Caleb). And ever since that day Eve had showered Junie with love and worked hard to provide for their tiny, two-person household.

But, when Eve learns that Junie and her best friend Izzy had been brutally murdered, she begins to fall apart. After all, what was the point of changing her life and becoming a contributing member of society of her daughter if it led to the death of her only child?

With dogged determination and a fierce need to identify the killer, Eve  takes it upon herself to find out the truth about what happened.

As Eve begins to search for answers in her daughter's slaying, old hurts, secrets and betrayals she had thought long buried are brought to light.

In fact, the twists in this tale are so numerous that readers will have a difficult time figuring out who the killer(s) is/are. As soon as you think you have a handle on all the players, you need to think again.

Author AMY ENGEL has captured perfectly the depth of a mother's love and protective instincts for her child. She has portrayed the anger and resentment of a mother towards the perpetrator of the murder to perfection.

Although this novel is a mystery, a thriller, a whodunit, it is unlike any other thriller readers have encountered previously. The story focuses on relationships - on family ties.

THE FAMILIAR DARK is also a story about poverty and the fact that when you are poor, your life choices are limited. When you are working hard every day just to put food on the table and a roof over your head, there is little energy left at the end of the day.

Once her child was taken from her in the most violent and traumatic way possible, Eve is devastated. Despite the fact that her brother, Cal, is a cop, Eve decides to launch her own investigation.

As Eve dogs deeper and deeper into the criminal underbelly of her small town, she begins to discover that there are many secrets there and that some people will do anything to ensure those secrets are never revealed.

This story roars along like a high-speed freight train and readers will need to hang on for the ride of their lives.

I rate THE FAMILIAR DARK as 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

***Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book.***

I was not familiar with the author but the description sounded intriguing. It's such a cliche to say but it was painful to put this book down. I was so drawn in by the story and the characters. The writing is beautiful even though the subject matter is raw and dark. This is a five star read and I will be looking for more from this author.

The Familiar Dark is the most consuming novel I’ve read in a long time! I was a little apprehensive that The Familiar Dark might be a little too dark, but I am so glad my curiosity got the better of me!!! This gripping read will have your jaw hanging wide open with the well placed (and unexpected) twists and turns. Amy Engel has masterfully created a multilayer storyline that will keep you guessing until the very end. After finishing this 5 star book, I immediately went on Amazon to check out Amy’s previously released novels and I actually bought The Roanoke Girls a little bit ago, but just haven’t read it! Soooooo, I absolutely know what book I’m moving to the top of my TBR list!!!

Eve Taggert has worked hard to throw off the ugly tatters of her Ozark childhood, with a mother who was as hard and cold as the winters Eve endured. But now, as an adult, Eve has to face the unendurable, the murder of her own daughter. Obsessed with finding out why her daughter died, Eve will discover that she has to channel her mother’s fierce and formidable spirit to uncover the truth