Nothing like a mystery with creepy husbands and questionable friendships. I found it compelling and was a little thrown by the back and forth timelines and I really didn’t like a single person in this story. And was shocked at the ending.
Thanks Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.
3.5⭐️

Fast-burn thriller alternating between two cousins turned best friends, alternating between past and present day. Afton and Sydney spent their childhood and teenage years together, that is, until tragedy strikes, accusing Afton of murdering Sydney's father. The thing is, Afton can't remember whether she committed murder or not, she has no memory of that horrible evening.

Now she is out, and doing her best to live a peaceful and quiet life, tucked away with her grandma. Given her history of blackouts and hallucinations, she is staying faithful to her medications and follow-ups. As the story progresses, it will have you questioning just what is real?

Thank you NetGalley!!! All opinions expressed are my own.

An edge of your seat , domestic thriller with a twist. Afton is searching for answers in a murder she was accused of committing and she is unable to remember due to a blackout. On the search for answers she discovers that some hide secrets so well. I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read others by this author. 4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the arc in exchange for my fair and honest review!

Listen, I don’t think Minka Kent gets enough hype, I’ve enjoyed many of her books and After Dark was no exception. In this story Afton is trying to escape the past where twenty years ago she was accused and charged with the murder of her best friend’s dad. She has always held on to her belief that she’s innocent but her memories of that night are lost. What starts as a story that looks like someone trying to find some semblance of normal after the murder among other struggles, quickly turns into a twisty thriller where each character seems more manipulative than the last. Kent leaves you trying to answer who killed Rick Carson until the end and the story was truly an enjoyable ride.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.

Another homeowner by Minka Kent. Loved it! Kept me wanting more and I couldn't put it down. The twists were unexpected throughout the book.

Book Title: After Dark
Author: Minka Kent
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: November 14, 2023
My Rating: 4.2 Stars!
Pages: 284

This is my third author, Minka Kent novel. I read "Unmissing" as well as "Gone Again".
My comment included that I was looking forward to my next Minka Kent novel!


Story is told in Present day and Twenty years ago from the POV of Afton and Sydney.

Twenty years ago when Afton Teachout was a teen she was accused of her killing Rick Carson, Shelter Rock HS Head Football Coach and her mother Vangie’s lover. Additionally Mr. Carson is her best friend Sydney’s father and is married to Cynthia Sydney’s mother who is also Vangie’s second cousin! Yikes!
Cynthia and Sydney have always believed in Afton’s innocence even if the rest of the Shelter Rock folks didn’t. Afton has no memory of that night or what happened. She knows she was at Sydney’s for a first day of Christmas break eating takeout pizza and watching movie marathon but didn’t feel well and Sydney’s boyfriend Drew took her home.
Afton was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and willful injury and given a sentence of twenty-five year but her public defender was able to have it reduced to five years of supervised probation as a psychiatrist stated it was due to suffering from dissociative episode.

Afton continued to live in Shelter Rock but with her grandmother and for the past eighteen years worked the night shift at the Grantwell Hotel. She continues to suffer from blackouts and has hallucinations; sometimes isn’t sure what is real
She is still friends with Sydney who married Drew now an insurance salesman; they have three sons Cal, Quincy and Alec. Sydney works in the evening as an ER nurse and during the day in a spa.

Although things aren’t going that well for Afton and one evening she spots the Missouri Lottery scratches she purchased a week ago and 36-16-47-7-21 becomes magic numbers! Yep! She won the lottery.

Her plan is to help Sydney get away from her lying cheating husband. Hoping this second chance—for herself and for Sydney—is her dream from true or does it In fact, becoming a nightmare.

This quick page turner was better than expected.
I was rooting for Afton.
Minka Kent did not disappoint!!
This story was GREAT!

Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 14, 2023.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: thriller/mystery 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A quick psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Psychological thrillers
Secrets and twists
Toxic relationships
Dual Timelines
Suspense quick reads
Unreliable narrators
Friendship drama
Complex characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
It was captivating- I finished it in a day

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I had a few questions at the end
Very over the top and unbelievable at times but that’s honestly what makes a great thriller

I really loved the premise here and the prologue dives into the day that changed Afton’s life forever. It was chilling and puzzling because it lays the groundwork for a very solid mystery but it also leaves so many questions unanswered. This flips back and forth between Afton and Syndey each chapter and it also has a few chapters from the past that slowly provides insight into both women’s lives. The pacing here was fast and furious and I truly couldn’t put this down, I read it all in a day because I was desperate to know what was really going on. I found myself really sympathetic towards Afton but it was weird because I was never sure if she was trustworthy either. I liked that though because it kept me on my toes and is a main part of the reason why I finished so quickly. I don’t want to say much more but if you like friendship dramas, super fast paced and addictive stories and tricky plots try this.

A great read filled with suspense. A teenager’s father is found murdered in her best friend’s house. Her best friend is covered in blood and remembers nothing. Somehow they remain friends. Will Afton remember what happened that night? I really enjoyed this book.

Minks Kent is a favorite of mine. Thrilling, chilling and all the creepy vibes. I loved this one and can’t wait to read more by her.

This book was amazing and I read it one sitting! Absolutely could not put it down. The characters were interesting.

Afton Teachout has been put through the ringer and it takes a long time to discover if she deserves it or not. It was a twisty psychological thriller and never would I have guessed the ending. Minka Kent is a fantastic storyteller and this is one that you definitely will devour. Read this book it is so GOOD!!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this character-driven thriller!

Afton is the town pariah after being accused of a violent crime as a teenager. Twenty years later, working the night shift at a local hotel, her life changes when she discovers she won the lottery. But as she tries to use her windfall to help her best friend, she becomes convinced that something is amiss in her friend’s marriage…and someone might be looking for the lottery ticket.

Told from a dual POV across two timelines, this book weaves the secrets of its main characters’ high school years with their lives in their late thirties. It features a sympathetic but (maybe?) unreliable narrator, and it will have readers scrambling to connect the dots.

I really enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it!

A story of best friends and a horrible murder that one of the friends is thought to have done. I was hooked from the beginning. I sure didn't see the ending coming.

I was so excited to get this ARC for “After Dark” from the fabulous Minka Kent. I highly recommend this story - I was such a fan!

Thank you netgalley for the ARC of this book! This is my first Minka Kent book. However, definitely not my last. I was instantly sucked in, and had troubles putting it down to go to sleep. I sympathized with Afton's crazy. Although some of her decisions were reckless, she seemed to have a great heart. Sydney on the other hand.. was not a favorite of mine. This book is a solid 4.5/5 for me, and I have already recommended it to a few friends!

This was my first Minka Kent and it will absolutely not be my last. She sunk her claws into me and it was a gripping, fast paced ride - I finished this in only a matter of hours while on vacation by the pool and OMG did that set the scene.

I really liked this story, the unreliable narrator aspect that Kent took in a totally different direction than expected. The past/present was a nice touch.

This was REALLy good and I cannot wait to read some of her backlist books.

This is the first Minka Kent book I have read, and it won’t be the last. It was a quick easy read, which I thought I had figured out right away. Alas, I hadn’t. The book took an unexpected turn.

2.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️✨

Twenty years ago, Afton Teachout was accused of murdering her mother’s boyfriend. She’s been an outcast in her small town ever since. Now Afton has come into a large sum of money and she decides to help her only friend, Sydney, flee a toxic husband. But Afton’s good intentions soon spin out of control and her second chance quickly becomes a nightmare.

This is an easy/quick read that reminded me a lot of Freida McFadden’s books. As with Freida’s books, you must understand that the plot is a little out there and suspend belief for the sake of the story. It’s twisty but not unpredictable. I wolud have like a different ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"After Dark" is the 4th book that I have read by Minka Kent.
I have previously read: "Gone Again",
"Unmissing" & "The Stillwater Girls" & enjoyed reading them all but her latest book, "After Dark", is my favorite.
This book was so addictive & twisty that I had to stay up way past my bedtime every night to see how it would end.
I can't wait to read what Ms. Kent decides to write next!

Gritty and page-turning. This had me on the edge of my seat right the whole way through. I have read Kent's books before but this may be up there with my favourites. Loved it!