Member Reviews
This is a story about a group of friends that are torn apart by the murder of one of their own. They are all under suspicion when dark secrets start to be revealed about Molly the wife if the victim. However, there are many more twists before this mystery is resolved. Be prepared to staying your seat reading until the end because what you may think is the truth is much more twisted than it seems.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington books for this ARC.
After I finished "All the Dark Places," I immediately looked for more books by Terri Parlato and was shocked (and then bummed!) to find out this was her debut novel. I loved it and I need more!
Molly wakes up the day after her husbands 40th birthday party to find him brutally murdered. The local detectives believe it was someone at the party, but who and why?
I was hooked from the start on this one! I loved the short chapters and the perspectives shifting between Molly and Detective Rita Myers. I loved having perspectives from both sides of the investigation in the same timeline. Also, did anyone else just adore Rita? I loved the added tidbits about her homelife and relationship with her neighbor. So sweet. There was a good amount of characters and tidbits about each character, but Parlato did such a great job not making it too confusing and putting all the pieces together. Still can't believe this is a debut- will definitely be following her to see what's next!
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One question: this is a debut novel?!
I do love me some thriller murder mysteries, but sometimes they can get rather predictable. Not this one. I found myself solving the case early on. Or so I thought.
This one has a lot of twists and none over the top. I found myself not wanting to out it down because each turn of the page, I was that much closer to knowing it all. All the secrets of the friends, Jay, Molly, even some from the detective.
Told from Detective Rita and Molly, the wife's, perspectives, this thriller mirder mystery keeps you hooked from the first pages until the end. How it all unravels and why, is a mystery until the author wants you to know. Very well thought out and written.
All the Dark Places is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out All the Dark Places today.
"SOMETIMES I WANT TO CAPTURE HAPPY A MOMENT TO KEEP FOREVER."
"Not like a picture or a video, but a feeling. A feeling that I want to relive for the rest of my life. (Why is it that nightmares insist on the same treatment?) I shudder and move away from the dark hallway in the the light of the living room, where my husband stands in front of the blazing fireplace while he relates a funny story to our friends. They've gathered for his birthday celebration and laugh with honest mirth. Everyone loves Jay. No one more than me."
Thus starts All The Dark Places by Terri Parlatto. By the next morning, Jay will be dead. Murdered in his office. Who would do such a thing to the man that everyone loves and respects. Jay is a psychologist. Molly is devasted to say the least.
Rita is a detective with the Boston P.D. and is the lead detective on the case. It is up to her to interview and determine who if anyone of the group of friends of Jay and Molly is to the murderer. It is unearthed that Molly has a dark past. It comes out in bits and pieces during the investigation.
Someone starts calling Molly leaving ominous messages for her about her past and that the person knows who she is and will be coming after her. Molly gets herself a service dog to protect her. All of her friends are interviewed but still no one knows who murdered her husband.
Another body is unearthed, literally on the mountain property and is owned by Jay and Molly. Now Jay becomes a suspect. Why would he murder this woman? Rita and her partner Chase Fuller must figure this out. Soon the FBI is brought in to assist with the case.
This is a police procedural, that is deeply character driven, each alternating chapter is told in Molly's Rita's viewpoint respectively. Each chapter drives the story to it's conclusion.
I love a good murder mystery and this one is very good. The plot is addictive, and it is written in such a way that keeps the reader moving through the book. Even though there are a lot of characters, that does not detract from the story. The storyline flows right along. I kind of knew or thought I knew who the murderer was but was surprised to find I was wrong.
I give this book 5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley & Kensington books for an eARC of All the Dark Places. Wow! Is this really Parlato’s debut novel? I am shook!
Molly Bradley’s throwing her husband, Jay, a 40th birthday celebration on a snowy night in Massachusetts with some of their closest friends. The next morning, she discovers him dead on the floor of his office, throat slashed. Devastated, Molly tries to make sense of her husband’s murder. He’s the only one who knows what happened to her, all those years ago. But was Jay all he seemed to be? And does someone else know about her past, too? If she can’t figure out who she can trust, she may be the next target.
I love books that seem to follow two-in-one. The POVs alternate between Molly and the devastation she is feeling following her husband’s death, and detective Rita Myers of the Boston PD. Rita’s POV is highly police procedural, but we also get insight into her friendships, career past, love life & family background. I really grew to love Rita’s character through this book and am crossing all of my fingers and toes that this will be the first in a series following her and other gruesome mysteries. The plot as a whole went in a completely different direction than I had ever anticipated. It was dark, twisty, and I had absolutely no idea who to trust. You get to know each of Molly and Jay's friends - Their struggles and potential motives. Also, of course being from MA I am a sucker for New England thrillers. This is a perfect read heading into the winter. 5 major stars from me!
Heartbreak begins this suspenseful novel when Molly wakes and can't find her husband, Bradley. The couple celebrated Bradley's fortieth birthday with their close circle of friends the night before. Life in a beautiful small town outside of Boston gives a picture of a good life, one that Molly worked so hard to achieve. Her perfect life disappears in a gruesome discovery.
When Molly finds Bradley's dead body in his garage office, I am hooked on discovering what happened to him and why. The police decide it must be someone in his circle of friends. Some of her best friends had secrets, and it seems Molly might have one too. The entire narrative was exciting and thought-provoking. I found this mystery a compulsive read and recommend it to everyone who likes murder mysteries.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.
What an amazing debut! “All the Dark Places,” begins with Molly, the main character, throwing her beloved husband, Jay, a birthday party. The party is a hit, and Molly has a few too many cocktails so she doesn’t remember much about going to bed. Shockingly, when she wakes up the next morning she finds Jay murdered! Who did it? Was it one of their friends?
Told from the perspectives of Molly, and Detective Rita Meyer’s, who is trying to solve the case, this is one of those books with short chapters that has you going, “just one more before bed.” I found it gripping and couldn’t put it down!
A 4.5 star read for me and I think any fan of detective stories, or whodunnit mysteries, should check it out! Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
Book: All The Dark Places
Author: Terri Perlato
Publisher: Kensington Books
Pub Date: December 27, 2022
I enjoyed this book overall. It was an easy read and I cared about the characters. There would be a few things I would change. It was way too long. I’m talking I thought I was at the end several times but nope it kept going. Several chapters need to be cut out. The ending was wrapped up way too neatly. But still in spite of that it was a solid book.
Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is December 27, 2022.
I really liked this book a lot, it was engaging, personable, engaging, easy to read and interesting. The two main characters, a woman with a traumatic past whose husband is murdered and the lead detective investigating the case are likeable and relatable. It is a mystery and a moving story of love and growth and healing, This is a debut novel and I will be checking for her future books as well. 4.5
This is the first ARC I have read, that I will be buying a physical copy of when it comes out. This was incredible! And a debut as well! The who done it factor within this story, had me guessing all the way up until the reveal, and I was so wrong! I loved the different point of views from the detective and the main character. And, of course we love short chapters! This was a great read, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy when it’s released in December!
There is a lot to like about this debut from Terri Parlato!
Snow is falling outside, but inside it’s all warmth as a half dozen of Jay Bradley’s closest friends gather to celebrate his 40th birthday party. The candles are lit, the wine is flowing and everyone seems to be having a wonderful time.
In attendance are his partner, Dr. Elise Westmore and her husband Scott, his hockey buddy Cal and his wife, Laken, and Molly’s best friend since second grade-Kim and her husband Josh.
His wife Molly retires to bed first, but Jay decides to get some work done on his new book before joining her upstairs. He is a psychologist and is writing about abnormal psychology, exploring some gruesome crimes.
But when she wakes up, his side of the bed is still cold, and she doesn’t smell the coffee that would normally be brewing by now. She finds him dead on the floor of his office, his throat slashed.
Could someone from his small circle of friends be guilty? Why was he preoccupied the week before his death? Could this have to do with his book? And, why was Molly crying just before the first guests arrived?!
Enter seasoned Detective Rita Myers from the Boston P.D. and her new partner, Chase Fuller, tasked with solving this crime.
Rita has 30 years of experience, and she likes to keep written notes in a notebook along with sketches of the suspects that she draws as she interviews them. Sometimes it puts them on edge, and makes them speak, and sometimes it helps her to make sense of things. Chase, is of a new generation-taking notes on his Smart phone.
But they work well together and work without egos getting in the way, inviting help from Lauren Broderick, who may be the smartest cop in the precinct, and collaborating with Sheriff Skinner from a nearby town, and with FBI Agents Joe Thorne and Allison Metz when the case suddenly becomes linked with a couple of crimes in the past.
This CHARACTER DRIVEN police procedural unfolds in short chapters which alternate between the POV’s of Rita, our main detective and Molly, the Victim’s wife, making it an easy “just one more chapter” before I turn out the lights, kind of book!
Descriptive writing brings this to life, making the characters and the suburb of Graybridge where they reside feel real.
And, if that isn’t enough-there is a rescue dog named Sadie, too!!
I am not a regular reader of police procedural series-but this is one that I would DEFINITELY continue following if the author chooses to let us solve another case with Detective Myers.
But, I will be watching for whatever Terri Parlato writes next!
If you like to solve crimes and appreciate smart, capable female detectives-get acquainted with this book on December 27, 2022!
Thank You to Kensington Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!
I found this to be a completely satisfying debut thriller. I was immediately drawn in by the premise of the book when I read the blurb. That feeling of drawn in never let up and I read the book in one sitting. The book is dark and twisted and well written. I hope to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really great book. Kept me wondering till the end and also very well written.
Definitely recommended if you enjoy mystery and thrillers with some twists and turns.
This was a great mystery that had me guessing until the end. The story centers on Molly, whose husband Jay is brutally murdered in his home office on the day after his 40th birthday party, and Rita, the detective working the case. The chapters alternate between the 2 POVs. Both characters were likeable and believable people. I really felt for Molly, who had suffered previous trauma and now had to endure the loss of the p[erson she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with- the author did a good job at letting the reader feel that pain without repeatedly dwelling on it, which was well done.
The mystery was sound, with a whole cast of characters who might be the murderer or at least know more than they are letting on. The dynamics between the friend group were interesting, though I did sometimes have trouble keeping them straight, as the detectives kept referring to everyone as "Mr" or "Mrs" this or that rather than their first names, which would have made it easier to follow. I changed my mind multiple times about who I thought the culprit was, though when it was revealed, I did wish the author had laid just a few more breadcrumbs for me to figure out. I particularly liked Rita's character- I wanted to go have a drink with her!
Overall, great read that I enjoyed immensely. I think I saw that this was the author's first book, which is even more impressive if I read that correctly. I don't know if she plans on writing more books focused on Rita, but I hope she does! Either way, I'm looking forward to whatever she puts out next. Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A good thriller and fast paced story. I reallyiked the characters and I was hooked from the very start. Would read more by this author xx
I am grateful to the author, Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.
This story is a solid debut, with elements of thriller, mystery and trauma. We have two heroines, the widow dealing with her husband's murder and the police officer investigating. We learn about the trauma in the widow's past and her anxiety along with survivor's guilt from a childhood abduction. The police officer is seasoned, although I didn't get a great sense of her character. The key mystery brings a variety of suspects into play, with enough twists and turns to keep my interest.
The resolution is satisfying but without depth, in my opinion. It just didn't drag me in from an emotional standpoint. My empathy toward the widow did not develop as the author may have wished, but that's completely personal.
I will look for further stories from this promising author. 3 stars.
I was given an advance reader copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. An engaging page turner of a story that is in part police procedural, and part psychological; thriller. Definitely recommend.
Great book! Very suspenseful! I enjoyed the characters and the story line. I'm very thankful for an advanced copy. Thanks to the author, publishing company, and Netgalley. I highly recommend anything from this author!