“Dark Circles” is a mystery narrated in the first person by Liv Reed, a minor celebrity with a series on Netflix. Her friend and manager, Jessica, sends Liv to a “retreat” in rural upstate New York after Liv is photographed having a melt down in front of her ex boyfriend’s New York City apartment. The retreat has cult like qualities, with solitary confinement in private rooms, interspersed with group and individual therapy sessions presided over by robe clad employees with cult-sounding names like “Rain,” “Devotion,” and “Dawn.” The first day of Liv’s residency, she and her fellow inmates witness the body of a young woman being dragged from the lake by the police. Shortly afterwards, Liv is accosted by her neighbor at the compound, Ava, who says that this latest death is one of four that have occurred over the last several years, all of which were ruled an accident or suicide but which are connected in some way to the retreat. Ava tries to convince Liv to start a true crime podcast, capitalizing on her role as a minor celebrity to involve the public in solving the crimes and uncovering the retreat’s involvement in the deaths.

I have a general rule when reading books—if they don’t engage my interest by the first 25%, I abandon the book on the theory that life is too short to read books that I don’t enjoy. When I’ve requested a copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher, I usually make an extra effort to push through my initial negative reaction and finish the book out of a sense of obligation. With that in mind, I made it to 47% before throwing in the towel.

Unfortunately, I found the book somewhat tedious, repetitious and boring. This could be in part due to the limitations imposed by a first person narrator with focus on one character, but it was also due to the uninspiring setting—a rural retreat that focused on meditation, yoga and grunt work such as kitchen duties and “earth work,” which became tedious fairly quickly. Then when Liv’s released from the retreat, the book focused on the drudgery of her internet and library research, where she dug through social media posts and old newspaper archives. Moreover, the “F” word was sprinkled liberally throughout the book, and while its use in general doesn’t offend me, its repetitive, gratuitous use was just another example of the tedious nature of the narrative. The book just felt flat to me and as a result, I didn’t feel invested in the character or the storyline. In fact, the character was not very likable as she was narcissistic and manipulative.

There may be others who will enjoy this book, but it did not appeal to me.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC copy for my review).

I love how this book went back and forth between real time action and podcast episodes of the events. None of the characters can be totally trusted, which made for a wonderfully tense thriller. The atmosphere was perfect, with just the right amount of weird happening to make for a real page-turner. I feel like the author had to have taken some inspiration from the Nxivm case.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for access to this arc.

While I can unreservedly say that I loved literally everything about this, I cannot give you any elucidating details. You're better off going into this blind, don't even read the summary, just let it...take you somewhere.

This book was just not my style. I had a hard time connecting with the mc, and I struggled to stay interested, but I’m sure others would love it.

I enjoyed this thriller. The cult-like storyline was very engaging and kept me hooked the whole way through. The ending gets a little messy but overall a good read.

Olivia Reed is an actress who is spiraling out of control. Think Lindsay Lohan. In serious need of a break, her publicist books her a stay at a remote retreat in Upstate New York.

The House of Light, a spiritual center for yoga, meditation, realignment and personal growth, appears to be the escape that Olivia needs. However, Olivia quickly realizes that something fishy is going on. Cut off from the rest of the world, she befriends fellow retreat member Ava. Together they begin investigating a bunch of mysterious deaths connected to the Light deemed suicides.

In an attempt to share the truth with the world, Olivia uses her celebrity to create a podcast. She is determined to expose the dark agenda of the Light and their sinister intentions.

Will Olivia be able to expose the Light before they try to silence her for good?


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. I am a big fan of podcast mystery solvers and cults gone wrong. This book follows an actress at a turning point in her career and relationships that gets caught up in the disappearance and possible murder of four women. It both explores her family relationship, a mother who disappeared and might be involved in the cult and an untrustworthy father as well as her relationship with her manager and best friend. Good character development and growth. An unexpected twist. All make for a book worth reading 4.5

3.5/5
Olivia Reed is a television celebrity whose public meltdown and scandalous love life plastered across the tabloids becomes a PR disaster .Her friend /manager Jess packs her off to a spiritual retreat in upstate New York ,the House of Light. Though Olivia had been to similar facilities in the past , she correctly perceives that the House of Light is not quite as transparent about its ideologies and motivations and that behind all the yoga, clean eating and detox sessions there is something not quite right with the way things are .
At the House of light she meets Ava who seems to be a regular and a conspiracy theorist .When the dead body of a young girl is found floating in the lake on the property, Ava shares her theories about the deaths of several young girls in the same vicinity that were ruled as suicide but occurred on dates corresponding to seasonal equinoxes , all these dead girls having some connection to the House of Light. Ava, on her part is aware of Olivia’s celebrity status and believes that Olivia can attract enough public interest in the cases to warrant further investigation . This information fuels Olivia’s initial misgivings and she embarks on a quest to find out more about the facility and leader and acolytes who are running the show. She does break some rules and her covert poking around the facility arouses suspicion which results in her being asked to leave the premises,
This proves to be to her advantage and she starts a podcast, a venture she had planned with Ava in the House of Light and it goes viral , engaging the efforts a huge fan base of internet sleuths whose investigations unearth clues and facts that aid Olivia in her efforts. Not everyone is a fan of her podcast , however, and she is the target of warnings and threats of further harm from the people involved . She also suspects that her being sent to the House of Light might not have been a coincidence. What remains to be seen is how he she unravels the mystery behind the deaths and uncovers more about the people involved while keeping herself out of harm’s way.
Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach is an engaging read with interesting characters, an intriguing plot and plenty of atmospheric tension. The podcast element wherein the protagonist discusses the progress of investigation in real time strengthens the narrative. I did feel that the pace dragged a bit in places but it really picks up at the halfway mark. I enjoyed the mystery and the setting of this very readable novel with twists and turns that keep you absorbed till the very end.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

This one seemed intriguing - another in the cult genre, but with a slightly different take, as the main character isn't fooled at all and realizes from the start that something's not quite right with the House of Light. Olivia Reed is a TV celebrity having a slight breakdown after an affair with a director ruins her relationship and may not stay secret much longer. Her manager forces her to go on a retreat to pull herself together and save her career. And really, at 32, she's too old for this type of tabloid melodrama. Until her age is spelled out, I actually thought the character was much younger, purely because of her immature behavior.

So she ends up at the House of Light, a center where they do the usual yoga, meditations, heathy eating, etc. She gamely goes along with it until the first body shows up in the lake on the center's property. She discovers that it's not the first one - there have been several young women found dead on the seasonal equinoxes of the past few years. But the authorities classify them all as suicides, and no one considers them as anything more. Except Ava, a repeat guest at the House of Light, who tells Olivia how she's been suspicious for a long time about what's happening to these women and how their deaths appear to be connected to the center. But because she's a local known for her alcohol-fueled antics, no one believes her. Until now. She thinks Olivia can use her celebrity to bring attention to the crimes. And Olivia soon agrees.

Thus begins the podcast, where she details in real time what is going on. I can't really say how she's able to pull this off - it's not quite a spoiler, but her retreat does veer off course, which was a pleasant surprise. It quickly becomes viral and soon it's her versus the House of Light and all of the suspicious people and activities that Olivia uncovers. Because they have seemingly unlimited power, they soon threaten and intimidate her, vowing they'll destroy her if she doesn't stop the podcast. Will she be able to uncover the truth before it's too late? Or will she be their latest victim?

It's an engaging story, Olivia's character is a bit vapid at first and if you end up not liking her, it will be virtually impossible to enjoy the story. One of the subplots involving a local man irritated me and just added more flaws to her character. Our we supposed to relate to her actions? Or just roll our eyes at her newest melodrama? So I didn't like that part, but otherwise, she was likable enough. And there's a good plot turn at the end, which actually makes sense, unlike some other story twists! And I can't stress enough - a story of a cult where the characters aren't completely brainwashed is enough reason alone to check out this book!

Dark Circles
Caite Dolan-Leach

Expected Pub Date• April 2022
Genre• Mystery|Thriller

Olivia is in need of a break. And needs to get away. She doesn't want to relive her meltdown on a New York street in Manhattan.
Her publicist has just what she needs.... A retreat in the remote parts of upstate New York. Called House of Light. This place is a Spiritual Center. Where Olivia can seek the growth she needs. Daily massages and yoga is just what she needs right now.

But Olivia doesn't know that the House of Light holds a deep darkness.
Ava who is a local tells Olivia that something weird is happening behind the place.
There has been a strange series of suicides who have all been women.
And no one believes Ava. No one believes the Center is involved.
Olivia starts a podcast to try to get to the bottom of what's lurking behind these doors.
Because something strange is going on behind the Light’s veneer.

I simply loved Dark Circles by Caite. A intriguing, fascinating story.
The mystery from beginning to end had me turning the pages quickly!
A total page turner. Beautifully constructed characters that leap off the page and immediately become lovable, complex people.
I thought this was a well crafted, beautifully plotted novel.
The writing was superb, simply brilliant if you ask me.
The suspense was on point. Absolutely loved it.
The cover was what caught my attention.
And I'm so glad this book was what I was expecting.
Compelling, intriguing, mysterious are three words that describe this book perfectly.

5|5 System.....
Quality Of Writing• 4
Plot Development• 5
Characterization• 4
Ease Of Reading• 5
Enjoyability• 5
Overall Rating• 5

Ballantine Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review closer to pub date.

A very compelling, page turner. I felt like the whole podcast exposure was very similar to Nine Perfect Strangers. I always enjoy dual timelines and that just really kept the pace up. The characters were well developed and relatable even though the heroine was a celebrity. Would definitely recommend to any who love a good mystery.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

3.5/5 Stars. I was not a fan of the cover of Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach but picked it up because of the plot. It follows an actress going to a retreat but ends up investigating murders. It has a podcast element woven throughout the novel which was interesting to read about. I struggled to connect with the main character/the writing style but it has an interesting main plot.

After a very photographed meltdown, Olivia Reed’s publicist thinks that only a stay in rehab will revive her stalled career. The House of Light in upstate New York will provide healthy meals, yoga classes, hiking and more while keeping Liv away from pills, alcohol, her phone and the public. It will also keep her locked in her room but that isn’t on the brochure. Liv, of course, is not the sort to accept deprivation. Soon, with the urging of her neighbor Ava, she’s jumping off her balcony and taking nighttime walks to investigate Ava’s theories. Ava believes that the House of Light is somehow involved in the suicides of young women who have been involved with the Light - suicides that are linked to solstices. And there is another solstice coming up very soon…

I could not put this book down! Alternating between Liv’s stay at the Light and Vultures, her popular podcast about the suicides, this mystery has it all. Strong, well described characters, especially Liv, Jess, Anna and the enigmatic Rain, a rural setting that comes alive as Liv wanders and investigates and a fast-paced plot makes this a compelling read. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Caite Dolan-Leach for this ARC.

When I read the premise of this book it was reminiscent of Liane Moriarty’s book Nine Perfect Strangers, which I enjoyed quite a bit. Dark Circles takes us on a journey to a spiritual retreat center with cult-like overtones, introduces us to spoiled and quirky guests, and throws in several mysterious happenings. Add in the podcast, the dead body in the lake, amateur sleuths, red herrings, and the Internet, and you have the makings of an exciting and thrilling read. The ending is somewhat predictable but this was a fast-paced and fun read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

“Dark Circles” by Cate Dolan-Leach is a bit of a twisted mystery/thriller. The book begins with the reader following Olivia (Liv) Reed, one of the stars of a TV show, as she enters “House of Light,” an upstate NY wellness centre/retreat, where she can (hopefully) regain some control of her life and become more self-aware (or possibly just being cut off from alcohol, social media, and drugs might be good for a while). Wellness centers aren’t new to Liv, but Liv has never been to a place like this one. On her first full day there, she gets a weird feeling about the place - especially after she meets a woman named Ava, who mentions some odd goings on, and the discovery of a dead body in the lake on the property just adds to the overall oddness. Mixed in with the ongoing story are episodes of “Vultures,” a podcast Liv starts about the House of Light and the oddness of events surrounding the retreat.

This book pretty much hooked me in from the beginning - starting off with a podcast, yes - more please. When the story started off, I had little sympathy for Liv - a spoiled star caught up in stardom floundering left and right (oh, please!), but as the book unfolded I did become sympathetic toward her - yes, she made some poor choices, yes, sometimes she acted before thinking (okay, quite often), and yes, she trusted people too quickly, but toward the end, I had hope that she’d matured a bit and would become a bit more reliant upon herself. I liked a number of things the author did - such as including “armchair Internet sleuths” (hello, Reddit) and also showing the craziness of the Internet and theories, including the one regarding Liv’s mother. Even figuring out part of the ending a bit ahead of time, that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book - and I even liked the little red herrings the author included along the way. A very solid and enjoyable book.

I really enjoyed this book about a mysterious cult. I don’t wanna give too much away but this book was the perfect thriller. It was a slow build into a dynamic ending.

This was an interesting read and I appreciate the chance to have read it. It just unfortunately wasn't my cup of tea and I guess not my genre. Thanks for the e copy in exchange for an honest review.

Good fast paced thriller! Lots of twists and turns. Writing style is easy to read and follow the story.

Being famous has its perks, it also has its drawbacks. Mainly having no anonymity, Olivia Reed decides to take a break and escape to a private spa in upstate New York. Called the House of Light, the retreat promises to grant attendees peace, quiet and a chance to realign themselves with the natural world. Sounds great – unless you count the high number of suicides committed by the women who have attended the center. Together with a local woman named Ava, Liv tries to uncover the darkness that lies in the House of Light. Fans of Liane Moriarty will like this twisty thriller