📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

Alone In The Dark By Joanne Ryan
Publication Date: August 19, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

Alone in the Dark was a domestic thriller that was a really fun and fast read, with an unhinged narrator and suspenseful mysteries at every turn of the page.

Our female main character, Abi, is in a bit of a transition period in her life... Not only did she end her three-year relationship with her ex-boyfriend Will less than a year ago, but she's still on probation for a drunk driving charge that resulted in the loss of her driver's license - and as a result, the subsequent loss of her job. While she's alone in the dark during her typical before-dawn run one morning, she sees a man get hit by a car. She tries to help, but she's unsure if he's dead and quickly runs to a public phone to call for help. When she returns to the scene to give a statement, the police are there -- but there's no body and no evidence of an accident. And from there, Abi's life turns into one big unhinged nightmare...

The questions and mysteries in this book really kept my attention and intrigued me, as I waited to find out what the ultimate conclusion would be. Abi was a likeable character, even if I did want to throttle her every few chapters for continuing to make stupid and potentially dangerous decisions. She was definitely an unreliable unhinged narrator, but it became apparent (at least to me) that she was being gaslighted by nearly everyone around her. And all the men in this book were absolutely despicable characters who diminished and belittled her every chance they could -- thank goodness her brother Adam finally turned out to be a good guy! It was enjoyable to watch Abi's journey into learning to trust her own instincts again and stand up for herself. Trigger warnings in this one: intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and a fatal hit-and-run car accident -- please use care if these are tough topics for you.

Overall, this was a fantastic read! If you're a fan of domestic thrillers with lots of secrets and mysteries, I think you'll really love this book! I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

#AloneInTheDark #JoanneRyan #BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbookclub #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #mysteries #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

I find book very interesting and inviting - the domestic thriller of its kind !
Worth of reading !

This is my first book by this author & it won't be my last!!! Really enjoyed this story it had me captivated from the very first page!!!

This was a thrilling read, I really enjoyed it! Can't wait to read more by this talented author. Recommended.

I loved this book. Great plot loved the character of Abi. I couldn't put it down and will be reading anything this author puts out. It had me guessing the whole way through. Who can you trust?

3.5 stars to this Joanne Ryan thriller.

It is fast paced and has the beats of a good crime novel. The length of the book, the writing and the pace are all well tied in to pack a punch.

Note: It features some domestic violence and can be a trigger.

A couple of things that did not work well for me - the resolution of the plot is a little improbable and the characters could have been better fleshed out to make them more relatable.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a quick and twisty read that I really enjoyed. It centers on Abi, who is rebuilding her life after escaping an abusive relationship when she witnesses a hit and run accident while running one morning. This catapults her into the middle of a dangerous mystery where she can’t help but get more involved.

While I was kind of annoyed with Abi at some points in the book for continuing to dig for answers when she was clearly putting herself in danger, I also felt like she had authentic reactions to the things that were going on around her. She was a likable character overall. The book was really fast paced and there were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming. I thought the end was a little sad but also tied up the story in a way that made sense.

Overall, I thought this was a fast and exciting read that is easy to finish in a short period of time. I’d recommend for those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't for me. I couldn't get into it. I can see how it would be someone else's cup of tea because the writing is good.

This was book made me so intrigued I could barely put it down. Very well written, loved all the twists that left me guessing how it will end.

Abby’s past year has been one of healing and trying to rebuild her confidence in herself.

Abby lost everything the night she left her abuser - a man she’d been in a three year relationship with - that resulted in her being charged with drunk driving. She lost her job, her ability to drive, and her home.

Trying to clear her mind and put the past behind her, Abby takes up running each morning. And on one particular morning, she witnesses a man being purposely run down by a car. When she sees two men exit the car to check on the man before speeding off, she knows something terrible has happened. Due to her recent drunk driving charge, should she reach out and call the police? Or should she continue to lay low?

Things become more complicated when she’s told her ex-boyfriend has a new girlfriend who has moved in with him after a couple of months of dating; just like Abby. Knowing how terrible he is, does she owe it to the girlfriend to say anything? To warn her? Or will that just put Abby back on his radar?

The only positive in Abby’s life is the new guy who joined as a fellow student in the Spanish class she takes. He’s handsome, kind, and seems to enjoy being around her.

Is Abby capable of trusting herself yet? Is she ready to move on? Or are these seemingly random events not so random after all?

This was a thrilling 4 star read that I greatly enjoyed. I definitely felt for Abby and how determined she was to find and trust herself again. I would definitely recommend this for fellow fans of Joanne Ryan and for those who enjoy Gemma Rogers, Anita Waller, and KL Slater!

Thank you Netgalley, Joanne Ryan and Boldwood Books for the eArc of Alone in the Dark.

This is one of the first book Ive read by Joanne Ryan and it won't be the last. Alone in the Dark is a twisty, fun psychological thriller which keep you guessing right to the end. I really enjoyed Joanne's writing style and felt that the balance between character building and the plot was well done. I got a good sense of who the characters were and they felt real. I feel that, if you do pick up on the foreshadowing, you might figure the twists but it really doesn't take away from the whole story.

I also listened to the audiobook who is narrated by Rose Robinson. I really enjoyed listening to the parts that I couldn't read while I was out and about. Rose has a lovely voice and the right cadence for the book itself

4 stars

This left me guessing with all the twists and turns and I truly didn't know where it was going to end. I absolutely wanted to devour the pages and loved the way johns charecter came to life.

Alone in the Dark. This one was twisty and fun! I did not see some of these twists coming. Very entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"Alone in the Dark" is an engrossing read that captivated me from start to finish. Filled with unexpected twists and turns, it was impossible to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

Joanne Ryan is a new to me author, but this won't be the last I read of her work. I don't want to spoil the story, but if you like twisty books with characters you'll love and hate, you will love this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While out for a run in the early morning darkness, Abi witnesses what appears to be a deliberate hit and run. To her the victim is clearly dead. She doesn't have her phone and must run some distance to get help. When she returns to the scene, a police officer is present but their is no body.

As I read further, I didn't know who to trust and neither did Abi. No one believes what she saw. But she knows it was real.

This one was a crazy ride from start to finish. It had me hooked right from the start and didn't let up until the finish. And what a finish it was.

Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc.

A good read
You will definitely keep turning the pages
I did read it in 24 hours I couldn’t put it down
Will definitely read more by this author
Thanks NetGalley

I absolutely loved this story and I've not added every book by this author to my every growing wish list. I had no idea where this story was going, I couldn't have guessed and i love that in psychological thriller. Brilliant read, amazingly unpredictable and twists throughout. Highly recommended.

📚Book Review: "Alone In The Dark" by Joanne Ryan
📚Genre: Psychological Thriller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

🌑What if you witnessed a murder... but there was no body to prove it? Joanne Ryan’s gripping thriller, Alone In The Dark, plunges readers into the unsettling world of Abi, a woman who has seen too much—and now, might lose everything because of it.

💡Why You'll Love It:
🌌Unrelenting Suspense: From the very first page, Joanne Ryan masterfully builds tension, keeping you hooked as you unravel the layers of this chilling mystery. Every chapter leaves you on edge, questioning what’s real and what’s a product of Abi’s fear-stricken mind.
🚶‍♀A Relatable Protagonist: Abi is more than just a witness—she’s a character you’ll root for. Her strength, vulnerability, and determination in the face of overwhelming odds make her journey compelling and relatable. As she fights to prove her sanity and find the truth, you can’t help but be drawn into her world.
🌌Atmospheric Setting: The nighttime setting adds a haunting layer to the story, making the darkness almost another character in itself. It’s a perfect backdrop for the eerie, unsettling events that unfold.

🎯 Perfect For:
🌟Fans of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end.
🌟Readers who enjoy strong, complex female protagonists.
🌟Anyone who loves a good mystery filled with suspense, danger, and a touch of the supernatural.

🌟 A spellbinding thriller that explores the thin line between reality and madness—don’t miss this heart-pounding read! 🌌🔦Thanks to @rachelsrandomresources and @netgalley for the #ARC #BlogTour

#BookReview #AloneInTheDark #JoanneRyan #Suspense #PsychologicalThriller #ReadersOfInstagram #IGReads #InstaBooks #Bookstagrammer #BookstagramCommunity #Netgalley

A good read.
After witnessing a murder Abi now has to be careful for her own life. Things take a dark turn in this story which is carefully woven and definitely kept me reading.