This was my first Amy Engel book and I loved it. Thank you to Netgalley, Dutton Publishing and Amy Engel for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the way the family drama and the town were described so in detail that the mystery of who was responsible wasn’t the main focus of the story but also didn’t detract from the story. This was so well done and I did not see a few of the twists coming, and those I did still surprised me with how they all came together in the end.

A huge thanks to Dutton Books for this gifted copy in exchange of an honest. I read this book in a little over a day because I couldn’t put it down. The author pulls you along with so many different tidbits of information as a mother tries to figure out who murdered her 12 year old daughter and her friend.

From the start you witness the murders of Izzy and Junie. I’m talking first 2 pages. Eve, Junie’s mom works at a diner where her brother Cal, a cop, shows up to tell her that her daughter has been murdered on the playground in their small town of Barren Springs. Both Cal and Eve grew up poor, with a very abusive mother that was heavily into drugs and different men daily. When Eve has Junie, her whole world revolves around her and her daughter. As Eve searches for answers to her daughter’s murder, she finds her self reverting back to the life she tried so hard to leave behind and run from, even putting her back in her mother’s trailer.

I love how you are but with random surprises as you read through. Secrets from Junie’s life, Cal’s life, Izzy’s life, Izzy’s parents, and Eve’s own life. Engel packs it in hard and leaves the story raw, gruesome, and unfiltered. If you like domestic suspense and murder thrillers, you will love this one. A mother’s search for answers and secrets that run rampant in a small town. I really enjoyed this and the constant need I had to find out who killed Junie. I felt like the culminating murderer reveal could have been a little bit more dirty and scandalous than it was, but Engel pulled it off with gusto and grunge. Loved this!

Triggers: child abuse, murder, domestic violence, assault, sexual assault, drug usage

Welcome to Barren Springs. I’ve rarely come across a more appropriately named setting & once you’ve spent some time here, I think you’ll agree.

Our MC & narrator is Eve Taggart. She & brother Cal somehow survived a childhood of poverty, fear & neglect courtesy of their drug dealing mother. Now Cal is a cop & Eve is a single mom, struggling to make ends meet on a waitress’ salary. Twelve year old Junie is the one good thing in Eve’s life & she’s determined to be the mother she never had.

So it’s no surprise that her daughter’s murder marks the beginning of Eve’s descent into darkness. After the bodies of Junie & best friend Izzy are found in a local park, it falls on Cal to break the news to Eve. Meanwhile, his boss Sheriff Land heads to the more genteel side of town to inform Jenny & Zach, Izzy’s wealthy parents. There’s bad blood between Eve & Land & when you learn of their shared history, you’ll understand why Eve decides she must search for the killer herself.

Oh man, prepare yourself…..this one is going to put you through the wringer. On one level, you have a devastated mother’s search for her daughter’s killer. But along the way, the author includes scenes that have you pondering so much more. Casual racism, domestic abuse, the social chasm between poverty & wealth & how we (unconsciously?) judge the parents of missing/murdered children. These are some of the themes that run through the background & shape the course of Eve’s investigation.

The setting effectively sets the tone for what’s to come. Barren Springs is a place that reeks of hopelessness & despair. Opportunity has bypassed it completely & virtually every character is just trying to survive. If it had a town square, a statue of Dante would not be out of place. As with many insular communities, everybody know your business. So the odds of someone rising above their predetermined place in the pecking order is essentially nil.

With this in mind, we follow Eve as she begins digging into events surrounding the death of the 2 girls. Unfortunately, it brings her into contact with her toxic mother & Junie’s estranged father. Eve cut them from her life in an effort to rise above her birthright but as she swings from crippling grief to blind rage, the temptation to return to her roots only grows stronger. With Junie gone, her only reason to keep breathing is revenge.

Once again, this author has created a cast of characters that evoke every emotion. Eve’s mother is a feral woman who survives on cigarettes & hate. Sheriff Land makes your skin crawl every time he steps on the page & you’ll begin to consider ways of wiping the smarmy grin off his face (note to self: delete search history 😈). Eve & Jenny seem polar opposites until events force them together & I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship.

The story is relentlessly bleak so it seems wrong to say I “enjoyed” it. It’s grim, gritty & makes no attempt to gloss over the ugly sides of human nature. The ending left me drained & in need of a beverage while I processed what happened. But you can only become that immersed in a work of fiction if the author has the tools & ability to pull it off. Ms. Engel clearly does.

Wow. This was my first Amy Engel book, and I’m honestly really impressed! This is a story of murder, family ties, and the strength of women. The small town secrets were not incredibly unique, but they were so well written, I truly felt like I understood the main character and what made her tick. I can honestly see myself reading this one again at some point. I don’t give many 5-star ratings, but this one is well-deserved. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance copy.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘺, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥.” ⁣
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The Familiar Dark is a dark, gritty, tragic, heartbreaking story of loss and a mother’s vengeance after her twelve year old daughter is found murdered with her best friend. ⁣
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This is a hard story to read but also a page turner that you can’t put down. This story discusses Eve’s difficult relationship with her drug addicted mother, who she tries so hard not to be for her daughter Junie, who ends up murdered. Junie has to dig back into her roots to try and figure out who killed her daughter. Eve and her brother Cal have a different brother sister relationship due to their difficult upbringing with poverty, drugs, and domestic violence. Eve reunited with Junies dad after 12 years. So many twists and dark secrets throughout this story.⁣
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How far will a mother go to avenge her daughter’s death? Will she find the murderer? ⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 thank you @netgalley and @duttonbooks for an ARC for my honest review. #bookstagram #crime #thriller #books Pub Date 3/31

Thank you @netgalley & @duttonbooks for a copy of The Familiar Dark (which hits shelves on March 31) in exchange for an honest review. Engel’s fourth book follows a mother seeking answers—and vengeance—for her 12-year-old daughter’s unprecedented murder. Well-written with a gripping plot that twists and turns through a small Missouri town filled to the brim with rough characters you wouldn’t want to find yourself alone with, I found The Familiar Dark to be a quick, enjoyable read, though it lacked the suspense and tension I was hoping for.

Born and raised in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks by a drug addicted, abusive mother, Eve Taggert has come to expect the worst from others— but even so, nothing can prepare her for the news that her daughter has been found dead in the park alongside her best friend. Wracked with grief and livid that she wasn’t able to protect Junie from the world, Eve takes the investigation into her own hands, asking questions that she’s not sure she’s ready to have answered, uncovering truths that will likely change her life as she knows it.

This book offered a look into a part of America unfamiliar to me, one where laws don’t seem to apply to the town’s most powerful, dangerous people, sexism and abuse runs rampant, and drug use is a given. Eve is a strong woman, a character I was rooting for throughout the entire novel, no matter if the choices she made weren’t the smartest. In a town that treats women like dirt, it’s no surprise to me that, in the end, this was a book about motherhood and the lengths that women are willing to go to when their babies have been wronged.

When Eve loses her only daughter in an unthinkable way. She will stop at nothing to get revenge. This town full of secrets better watch out for the Mom who has nothing else to lose.
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This thriller will absolutely gut you. It was devastating to see this mother go through her grief.
It was just one thing after another for our characters, and while she handles it as best she could it was really tough to read. I wanted better for her.
I did enjoy it though. The ending was a surprise. I almost want a sequel because I want to see how our main character is doing a few years down the line.

This book was dark, gritty and so addictive. Once you get into it is so difficult to put down and turn away from Eve's story. This is a murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. Eve's grief as she searches for answers drives the story forward and causes the reader to become as invested as she is in find her daughter's killer.

Junie and her best friend Izzy are dead. While the police slowly seem to maybe be trying to find the killer, Eve was not raised to take these things sitting down. Her mother taught both her and her brother Cal that nobody messes with their family. While Eve was determined not to give Junie the same life her mother had given her, with Junie dead she is determined to find out who killed her little girl.

I was immediately drawn into this book. Right from the get-go there was a murder that needed to be solved. The writing did a beautiful job of describing not only the characters, but also the scenery. I was able to picture the town, the local dives, and the neighboring people. This kept me on my toes trying to figure out who had killed the girls, and I definitely did not see the answer coming!

Thank you to Dutton Books and netgalley for my gifted copy of this book!

Dark. Twisted. Binge-worthy.

Determined to give her daughter Junie a better life than she had growing up, Eve works long hours and distances herself and Junie far from her mother. There are a lot of things that don’t add up on a Saturday in April. Why is it snowing? Why hasn’t she heard from Junie? Why is her brother, the local policeman, showing up to her diner when he is always out of town on the weekend? One look from him and she knows- Junie is dead.

What did I just read? Huge thank you to Amy! I have struggled getting into a book with everything going on. I have pulled 4-5 off my shelf and instantly returned them. But not this one. The Familiar Dark pulled me in from the very first page and kept me there until the very last word. I was so caught up in Eve’s drama that I temporarily forgot about my own. That’s the beauty of a good book, it’s an escape. And this one my friends, is a damn good book.

Thank YOU Dutton Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book! Don’t make plans for March 31st because you’ll be binging this beautiful disaster.


**If you are trying out thrillers for the very first time, this may not be the one you want to read. It’s dark, depressing and focuses on poverty, death, drugs and abuse. But it had me guessing until the end and I think every thriller fan will love it!

Ok... this past year, I have really been craving books that offer me a thrill, a few chills and a suspenseful mystery to be solved. When I was offered up an early look at Amy Engel’s new murder mystery, The Familiar Dark, I gobbled it right up. I went into this book predicting murder, investigations, ever changing suspects and some twists and turns along the way. While my predictions were on par, I was pleasantly surprised by how much more this book had to offer. Playing out more as a small town drama with a side dish of murder, The Familiar Dark is perfect for crime mystery and drama lovers alike. Let’s see why….

Eve, a single mom, was born and raised in the small town of Barron Springs, Missouri, where poverty and vengeance is the driving force in this ever so bleak town. While working her shift at the local diner, Eve is interrupted by her police officer brother with news that her twelve year old daughter and her best friend were found murdered on the town playground. Life for Eve is put on hold until she finds out who did this to her only child. While the town police (including her brother Cal) investigate these murders, Eve takes it upon herself to dig around her crumbling town for some answers. It’s seeing her drug ladened mother and revisiting her abusive past that help put the pieces of this mysterious puzzle together.

The most difficult part of The Familiar Dark for me was the opening scene. The story begins with a well written and emotionally charged murder of two pre-teen girls. Though it is not super gory, the intensity of this scene was the ultimate punch in the gut (especially being a parent). I’m not going to lie, it did make me pause and wonder if I could go on reading (it is only 2 pages). Well, I am so glad I pressed on. So many murder mysteries are driven by the actual crime itself. Not so much with Engel’s harrowing tale. Instead it’s her characters and the town they live in that moved this story forward. The town of Barron Springs is so well illustrated. There is a hardness to this seedy town that reeks of impossibility and despair. Engel truly exposed damaged and raw to the bone characters. She captures Eve’s utter grief and fury while exposing the ugly spirits and dirty souls of the people around her. Socio-economic status and poverty is an intricate maze with no end in sight. While Eve’s character has an overflowing urge to break free from her past life and reach the end of this never ending path, others in this story continue on this endless journey with breathtaking hopelessness.

The Familiar Dark is a soul-stirring mystery that I couldn’t put down. While the grim atmosphere sucked me into its bottomless pit, the desperate characters kept me wanting more of their stories. Engel kept me guessing throughout her story. She had me fascinated by Eve’s cruel family and the vicious life cycle it fueled. This story has it all...love, loss, grief and secrets GALORE. I highly recommend this book to those reluctant to read murder mysteries and to the die hard suspense seekers. The Familiar Dark has something powerful to offer all readers. Above all, this book is a wicked fast read. A quality I do so admire!


Thank you to Dutton Books and Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel. What a treat to read and write about!

Many thanks to @ NetGalley for an advance copy of The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel with an upcoming pub date of March 31!

[4 out of 5 stars]: 12-year old girls Izzy and Junie are murdered. Junie's mother - Eve Taggert - is consumed by grief and wants to find out what happened at all costs, even if it means tapping back into her darker roots.

The Missouri Ozarks is a rough place - where everyone is raised without sugar coating - including Eve - a native to this place where few claw out.

When Eve was a mother to Junie she put her dark past behind her, but now that she's dead, she needs her darkness to "properly" avenge her daughter - and this is the story of how far she goes.

The voice in this book incredible - and I loved this raw and gritty story and I highly recommend it as an addictive thriller!

Amy Engel crafted a wonderful thriller with this release. It was a solid 4 star read and I highly recommend the novel if you are looking for a fast paced thriller to fly through. Even though the book is relatively short, the characters were well developed. The story never lagged and was well paced. I would definitely read another book by this author. During a time when I was struggling to pick anything up, this was perfect to get my back into my reading groove.

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Just finished reading THE FAMILIAR DARK by Amy Engel. Received this ARC copy from Dutton Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Official publishing date is March 31st, 2020.

This story starts off with a double murder, of two twelve year old girls set in the Missouri, Ozarks. Eve Taggert our main character and mother to Junie (one of the girls that was murdered), takes it upon herself to uncover the truth about this hateful crime and vows to avenge her daughters death.

This is not your typical thriller, but more of a mother on a determined quest to understand the meaning of why this happened to her daughter in a poor town where stuff like this happens all the time, and usually gets brushed under a rug.

Don't expect a fun read with this one, its dark, ugly and gritty. But it was also one I could not put down until I also knew why Junie and her friend Izzy were killed. I did expect the killer near the 75% mark, but had to keep reading to make sure justice was served.

Wow. 4.5 stars for The Familiar Dark. Thank you Dutton Books for the advanced reader copy.

This was my first book by Amy Engel and I loved it.

We open to a gruesome scene of Izzy and Junior being murdered. The rest of the story unfolds through Eve, Junie’s mother, as she is determined to find out why her daughter was killed and who did it.

Soon we learn the in the small town of Barren Springs, the people are tough and the secrets abound. During Eve’s quest - her abusive and traumatic history comes into play as almost everyone she interacts with is a suspect and has capacity for evil in her mind.

Several developments took me by surprise in this one and I just felt heartbroken about the generational family dysfunction. But as far as psychological thrillers go, this one was a amazing. Dark, disturbing and fast-paced.

I have mixed feelings about this book so this review is a struggle. It’s gripping and suspenseful and I could tell it was a very well thought out storyline. There’s a good amount of backstory given on the main character, which I appreciated, because it helps you understand what drives her. Just something that stood out to me.
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Here’s where my struggle comes in. It’s dark and disturbing, which I expected, but I guess it was more than I expected. Honestly it was somewhat depressing. I guess that’s partly personal preference but I do feel like I should say it. I did predict part of it but there was still a bit of a twist left.
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Overall, it is a good book and I’ve thought hard about this and tried to be objective. I’m gonna go down the middle and give it three stars. I’m sure it won’t bother some people quite as much as it bothered me.

Thanks to Penguin Group, Dutton, and NetGalley for my advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.

When a mother’s daughter is murdered on a playground, she is determined for justice if that’s the last thing she can do. This is truly a story about how powerful a family can do, even under the darkest moments.

I really appreciate the setting and the reality that the author portrays. This rural setting is a major center for poverty and the reality is that poverty often takes over. I also really liked the characterization and the emotions created.

What fell flat for me: it felt rushed at the end, almost like the author had to cap it. I would have liked a bit more development.

Don’t miss this on shelves on March 31!

Alas, I am afraid that I am not a fan of Amy Engel’s storytelling. With this and Roanoke Girls, I just felt deflated reading both these books.

The Familiar Dark attempts to be a thriller. Set in the Ozarks, this is the story of the murder of Eve Taggert’s 12 year old daughter and her friend. Eve is surrounded by Cal, a police officer who is like family, her strange mother, who they have very little contact and a cast of other characters that might have you scratching your head.

Eve is on the hunt to find her daughter’s killer and she will stop at almost nothing to find out what happened. As it is a mystery, I never want to give too much away but I will give you my thoughts.

This was very disjointed, and at times felt like it was amateur. I did not care about most of these people, so I found myself not actually caring who might be the killer. When we get to the apex of this story, I was just like so what.

I hate to write reviews like this, but feel like I need to be honest here. The only saving grace that kept me going was that it was relatively short.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Engel’s The Roanoke Girls (my review) even though it’s a super messed up story, but this mystery fell totally flat to me. I’m not sure why I finished it and I even broke my own DNF policy. The first half is strangely slow for a mystery. It really focused on Eve’s grief over her daughter’s death in unoriginal ways while I was just waiting for something to happen with the investigation. I skimmed the last 30% just to find out what would happen, but the ending turned out to be a bit ridiculous. And, the entire book seemed surface level.

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel
Pub Date March 31, 2020

Amy Engel, author of the Roanoke Girls, writes this dark and twisty story filled with tragedy and vengeance. Reading this book left me shattered and feeling like I committed a crime just reading it.

Eve Taggert grew up in the holler, in a trailer with her meth addicted mother in the Missouri Ozark. Her mama was hard, often cruel and taught Eve the toughest lessons in life. An eye for an eye was more like death for a slight.

When Eve’s 12 year old daughter Junie and her best friend are murdered on the playground, Eve must reach inside herself and her roots to hunt down the person that stole her daughter from her.

This was a highly addictive murder mystery, and I expect nothing less from Amy Engel. I loved it!! 5/5 stars!

Thank you @NetGalley and @duttonbooks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.