After Dark by Minka Kent put me into the perfect autumn thriller mood. It reminded me of a true crime documentary that kept me guessing until the end. The story is told from two perspectives, which I loved, and helped to keep me guessing as to how the story would end and who had killed Sydney’s father. My favorite line from the book was “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.” So good, definitely recommend this dark thriller that kept me up late to finish!

Afton lives a simple, secluded life after a tragic event takes place during her childhood. Her mother turns her back on her, and Afton only has her grandmother and her best friend, Sydney, to rely on. When Sydney’s life seems to be falling apart, Afton knows she has to help her only friend. While Afton is busy looking out for Sydney, who is looking out for Afton?
I enjoyed this book overall. I was curious to know what truly happened the night of the murder. Was Sydney’s husband cheating? Did Afton really win the lottery? Why are Afton’s pills not working and she never seems to sleep? Toward the end of the book, I felt some things were a little far fetched and I wish justice had be served. Afton deserved more.

Another great psychological thriller from Minka Kent!

I have read almost all of her thrillers; I just have two left on my TBR to finish her full collection. I love her style and they way she makes you so invested in the lives of her characters. This one has an unreliable narrator, which is something I have seen Minka do before and do it well! I enjoyed the twists and turns and loved the answers we got at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I appreciated the fast-paced, twisty aspects of this book. However, the writing style the characters and the plot did not quite do it for me. The writing style was very simple. It felt like two friends gossiping, which is great if that is what you’re looking for, but it’s not the style I tend to gravitate towards. The sentences were short, sometimes a little choppy, and it felt like the two main characters were 17 rather than the 37 they were supposed to be. The choices the characters made were definitely frustrating; some of them made sense once you figured out, Afton was hallucinating. The very end was satisfying enough, but despite Sydney making a few comments about her darkness and her mom seeing that in her, we don’t actually see any actions that support those claims. Hers and Afton’s friendship was toxic, but we also did not see much of that play out either. The characters felt under developed. I would maybe recommend this to a friend if they were looking for a beach read but it would not be my first recommendation. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for my advanced reader copy.

Wowzers! Like all books by Minka Kent I pretty much went in blind. After all, that’s what makes reading a thriller even more enjoyable. This book had an unbelievable twist I couldn’t have imagined; it literally blew my mind!!!!!! This book was unpredictable, well written and had a fast pace. A total enjoyable read and one I would recommend.

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!