Minka does not disappoint, from page one you are twirled into Afton and Syndey's world, childhood best friends each chapter is told from their differing perspectives, along with flashbacks that eventually reveals the betrayal. This is a story that explores mental health and the ties that bind us to people. Definitely recommend this, nice fast thriller.

After Dark is a fast paced suspenseful thriller that was a fast read for me. At about the halfway point there comes a huge twist and my whole perspective was shifted. I started to question everything and didn't know what to believe. I love books like this! The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the ending left me hanging a bit and I was slightly unsatisfied. The entire book was a 5 star until the end, I felt it was a bit rushed and didn't match the caliber of the rest of the book. I would say this is more like 4.5 stars rounded down.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a teenager, Afton was accused of murdering her mother’s boyfriend in a psychotic episode. Now, twenty years later and with a sudden financial windfall, she decides to help her childhood best friend escape an unhappy marriage. But Afton’s life is soon upended as her attempts to help her friend Sydney take an unexpected turn. After Dark is a taut, to-the-point thriller, and although the plot can be a little thin, there are enough whiplash moments to carry the book through. It’s an uncomplicated, quick read, with just a handful of characters and just as many surprises. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After Dark has you guessing you know who did it only to throw twist after twist that keeps you wanting more!

This book is full of thrill and mystery. I enjoyed every part of the story. Can’t go wrong with Ms. Kent’s awesome work.

After Dark, if a fast and thrilling read that you won't want to put down (and you can read it in one sitting. ) We follow Afton, an unreliable narrator who suffers from blackouts and hallucinations who's previously been accused of killing her best friends father but has no memory of this. I always love having an unreliable narrator and never being too sure if I can believe what we are being told; I also thought Afton was a great FMC who you actually really root for throughout. Overall I think this was a great thriller full of loads of twists that I highly recommend.

Minka Kent is an automatic read for me. I have enjoyed every one of her books and this one is no exception. A fast, thrilling, puzzling mystery that I could not put down. I found myself questioning what was real and what was imagined. The characters and their actions kept me guessing until almost the end. Told through the past and present events.

*4.5 stars*

After Dark follows two almost lifelong friends and the devastating bump that could have destroyed their friendship twenty years prior. Afton was found next to the body of Sydney's deceased father, murder weapon in hand, and unable to remember a thing about the hours prior. Now 37, she lives with her grandmother, still in the town that often treats her like a murderer. No one knows what happened that night, but Sydney has moved past the implications, and doesn't believe that Afton was the one who ended her father's life. Their friendship isn't as strong as it was prior to that fateful night, but they are still practically like sisters.

Afton works night shift at the town's historic hotel, and comes to discover that she has won a life changing amount of money. The same night, she also sees a man that looks exactly like her best friend's husband sneak past the front desk and enter a room checked out to another woman. Sydney owns a med spa in town, and her husband also has his own business. She doesn't know about Drew's possible infidelity, but she does know about the tens of thousands of dollars of debt that they are currently drowning in. The story continues to follow both of the friends as they move through these events, and as the past gets revealed.

There were a few things that had me confused/left wondering why the heck anyone would let that happen or choose to handle the situation in that manner. Honestly, I had the book at a 4 star rating, but I really liked the epilogue and was satisfied with the ending. That bumped it up to 4.5 for me.

Even with that considered, I did enjoy reading this book, and I stayed up way too late reading it several nights because I couldn't put it down. I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen next, even though I paid for it the following day. Thank you again to NetGalley, Minka Kent, and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book!

Just WOW! The amazing Minka Kent does it again! Such a fabulous storyteller! This one hooked me early on and just never let go. Action packed and full of creepy twists and turns. The characters were outstanding and kept me reading way past my best.
Highly recommend

Thank you NetGalley and Minka Kent for the opportunity to read and review this great book.

Minka Kent does it again! I have read a few of her books and loved them all. I really enjoy her writing style. This was a super quick read and it captured my attention from the first chapter and it never let up! A great story with a totally unexpected ending- I never expected the story to take a turn like that. I could not put this book down! A wonderful author- will be reading more of her books! Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and Minka Kent for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what really happened on December 23rd the whole book. While the beginning and the middle were a psychological delight, the ending felt a bit lackluster. I needed a bigger punch.

So I loved the plot as well as the characters I will say the name of the FMC threw me off a bit but it’s ok. I loved how the blackouts were part of the plot but not in the way that was done before.

That ending though was amazing I’m not trying to give off any spoilers but man Afton and Sydney had a wild ride.

This was absolutely gripping. I loved it! Highly recommended. Another great book from Minka Kent. Thank you for allowing me to read the advanced copy.

Good storyline! Good character development. Kept me hooked and wanted to read as quickly as possible. First book I’ve read by this author and I’ll have to read more.

Afton Teachout is a social pariah. Accused of murdering her mother's lover in a blackout rage 20 years prior, Afton's life has been far from easy.

Living with her grandma, working nightshift at a local hotel, and relying on medication to keep her sane, it seems Afton's luck has changed when she finds herself with a winning lottery ticket; to the tune of $33 million.

Afton's best (and only) friend Sadie has lead a very different life. Marrying her high school sweetheart, having 3 beautiful kiddos, and both her and Drew being able to own their own businesses and pursue their dreams. But there's more lurking beneath the surface of their perfect exterior. And with Afton's lottery win, she's determined to help Sadie leave her toxic marriage.

All of the moving pieces converge into a surprising twist you won't see coming!

I did take a star off because the ending felt a bit rushed and disingenuous (not "unbelievable" but it didn't quite fit with what we learn about the characters.) Still a solid, incredibly fast-paced read from Minka Kent and one you won't want to miss!

This was such a great book! The twists and turns were so entertaining, and constantly left me wanting to know more. It went in directions I wasn't expecting, and kept me hooked the entire time. I definitely recommend for anyone who loves a good thriller!

Amazing! I couldn’t stop reading this and I was shook at the ending! Minka books just keep getting better!

After Dark is a psychological thriller about Ashton and Sydney, best friends/cousins, and a murder that took place when they were seventeen.

In 2003, Ashton was charged with the murder of Sydney's father in a blind fit of rage. Ashton has no recollection of what happened and very quickly becomes the town pariah.
Now, 20 years later, Ashton is still the town pariah. She keeps to herself and works the graveyard shift at the local hotel while trying to make amends to her friend and family. She still has no idea what happened that fateful night.

Throughout the book, we hear a lot about Ashton's mental health and possible delusions, leaving the reader questioning what is real and what is actually fact, as she navigates her daily life.

I love Minka Kent's books and have read them all. This one just didn't seem to hit the mark for me. The premise was fantastic, but I felt I was left with too many questions at the end. Mainly, why ?

But it's a great solid read, which I enjoyed.

“My mother always says that inside each of us is a stranger - someone who looks like us and sounds like us, but is anything but. She calls it our shadow self. It’s where we keep our anger, our shame, our guilt, our darkness.”

A fantastic standalone psychological thriller!

Don’t you often wonder how authors come up with names for characters? I’d love to know how Minka Kent arrived at ‘Afton Teachout’ for her protagonist. Even more puzzling than the FMC’s name is her ‘friendship’ with her best friend and her family after allegedly killing Sydney’s dad. How can you remain friendly after you see your bestie with a bloodied knife and your dad dead? I was hooked - especially after learning that Sydney’s dad was Afton’s mom’s boyfriend! What toxic relationships.

What follows is a dual timeline revealing Afton’s friendship with Sydney; it’s dark and full of secrets! The author examines mental health and questions whether a deferred sentence really means freedom or if it’s just as limiting as a conviction. Sometimes, second chances aren’t all they are cracked up to be….even after a windfall! Even after boring shifts at the Grantwell Hotel in Shelter Rock. Just ask Afton! I had to suspend disbelief for a few moments and I didn’t know whether to trust the narrator, but I was on the edge of my seat and I was entertained.

You’ll have to read this well-paced quick read to get an inside look into the strangers, the ‘shadow self,’ within Afton and Sydney. Know this, you’ll have plenty of questions unanswered!

Anyone else need a sequel?

I was gifted this copy Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Minka Kent has an uncanny talent for keeping readers on their toes. This book follows the friendship of Afton and Sydney throughout high school and into adulthood. Vangie, Afton's often-absent mother, makes poor life choices that lead to her daughter being accused of a murder she can't remember committing. After the murder of Sydney's father, allegedly at the hands of Afton, a friendship is changed forever. The story follows Afton through psychotic episodes, hallucinations, and a winning lottery ticket that will change her entire life. A wild ride that you won't want to hop off of until you reach the very end and discover the truth of Sydney's father's death. Four stars. Not as gripping as her other titles, but definitely worth the read.