In Daylight by Caroline Flarity
Published Aug 13th, 2024
This is not your normal mystery book. This is a sci-fi thriller that leaves you asking questions while looking at people with outrageous claims a little closer. Maybe those people have experienced something we haven't....or at least, we don't remember experiencing?
Mika has had a full on debilitating nervous breakdown during one of the most important presentations of her life in front of thousands of people which sends her back to the small town she had tried so hard to leave behind. Now stuck helping at the family's 24 hour convenience store, Mika is once again facing the truth about her messed up family. No one in the family sleeps due to a genetic disorder. No sleep causes all kinds of mental and physical issues. Her ailing father, who is losing his mind going on about "them" watching him, says he has found her estranged sister who left them, left her, years ago and hasn't contacted them since. He wants Mika to go talk to her and bring her home. But is it really her? And why would she want to come home to this madness? She left for a reason. Mika decides she has to see if it is her, and if so, why did she leave? More importantly, why did she leave Mika to deal with this alone?
I loved this author's take/twist on a cultral phenomena. Often we write people off as "crazy"; what if there's more to it? This book will leave you thinking.
#indaylight
#CarolineFlarity
#netgallery

First I would like to thank NetGalley, Caroline Flarity, and East Side Press for my ARC copy.

Caroline Flarity's "In Daylight" is a captivating blend of psychological thriller and science fiction that will keep you guessing until the very end. The story follows Mika, a woman who is initially skeptical of her sister's claims of alien abduction. As she reluctantly joins a support group for alien encounter survivors, Mika finds herself questioning her own perception of reality.

Flarity masterfully builds tension throughout the narrative, creating a sense of unease and intrigue. The novel delves into themes of family, belief, and the blurred lines between reality and delusion. While some readers might find the pacing a bit slow at times, the unique premise and well-developed characters make it a worthwhile read.

"In Daylight" is a thought-provoking exploration of the human mind and the power of belief. If you enjoy stories that challenge your perception of reality, this book is a must-read.

Great read. Definitely didn't expect many of the revelations that happened to the characters. Would highly recommend readers to give this a go.

I loved the pacing of this book so much I nearly read it in one sitting. Mika's older sister, Naomi, walked out on the family years ago and never returned. Their father is convinced the FBI has been stalking and harassing them attempting to locate Naomi. When he claims he found her through a private investigator, Mika decides it's up to her to confront her sister and possibly even bring her home, but she is not prepared for what she discovers.

The Crane family is plagued with insomnia. Is it a genetic disorder or is something else at play? This book kept me guessing the entire time. Are there aliens involved or could there be a mental disorder affecting the family? Perhaps Mika is imagining it all? I love finding reads that are out of the norm and make me question everything.

There was strong character development, and the atmosphere gave off a bit of a creepy vibe. I was almost waiting for something to jump out of the trees. I would enjoy seeing this as a movie adaptation. The ending took me by complete surprise, and I would not have minded if this book were longer and delved even further. There is so much more to discover. Maybe there is room for a part two?

Thank you, Caroline Flarity, Netgalley, and East Side Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

This was okay. I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't enjoy In Daylight more than I did.

There is the palpable sense of claustrophobia, and Flarity does a great job of making you question Mika's narrative. It becomes increasingly difficult to tell if everything is real, or if it's all just part of a psychotic break.

Some of the explanations were a little flimsy; there are so many loose ends, things that don't add up. The ending didn't seem like an ending at all, but just a scene the author slapped on because they couldnt figure out where they wanted the story to go.

I also didn't understand Mika's motivations or intentions towards the end, they felt purposely contorted to give the story more tension and drama. She complains for the first half of the book about Callum--her recent ex, also a man shown to the reader to be incredibly obnoxious and conceited--but is later ready to throw her life away for this same man, regardless of the truth or the trauma it would inevitably put her family through. I truly did not understand her incessant desire to appease Callum, and the epilogue doesn't change that.

I'm all for a good alien abduction story, but I think this one needs another round of developmental editing. Thank you to NetGalley and East Side Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

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

I hate to give the book such a low rating, especially when it contains such beautiful and lyrical writing, but unfortunately I can’t bring myself to like anything more about it than that. And honestly I think it comes down to personal tastes.

I think In Daylight was trying for something profound, but it fell just sort of achieving its goals. There’s a lot of commentary on how violence can have its pros and cons, and whether the context of a situation justifies hurting others (like in cases of self-defense), but it came off as a bit too heavy-handed and didn’t have the effect it was meant to. It’s a short read, only 200 pages on the Netgalley eARC, about a troubled family dealing with deep-seated traumas of a potentially extraterrestrial nature. The entire family is deeply unlikable; they’re meant to be that way, though, so don’t let that deter you.

The setting is claustrophobic and there’s a sense of dread permeating everything you read, and after a point you really start to wonder whether the main character is having a psychotic break or if what she’s experiencing is real. It’s weird, it’s trippy, and it’s where the book really excels. The problem is that there were so many loose ends that are never solved—especially when it comes to a character named Marcus, who could be removed from the story entirely with few problems.

I think in the end, this story needs another pass-through with the editor. It has the makings of something incredible but isn’t quite there yet.

In Daylight by Caroline Flarity

Riddled with panic attacks and chronic insomnia, Mika is struggling to find footing in an ever-stressful world. Naomi, her older sister, suddenly left the family decades ago without any correspondence. In poor health, Mika's father secretly hires a private investigator to find Naomi, for he wishes to see her one last time. Caroline Flarity, the author known for her other work entitled The Ghost Hunter's Daughter, takes us through a gauntlet of a family ravaged by sleepless nights and a penchant for violence. Naomi's disappearance has left a void in the family. As the reader delves deeper into the story, some patterns form. A deeper meaning behind the peculiarities comes to the forefront, leaving the reader astonished by the revelations.

I glanced at the milk carton and saw a missing person's profile. Naomi was the name with a picture decades old. Why has she not written or reached out? We are kin. Family dynamics become hard to deal with, but we don't just walk out. The worry simmers to a boiling rage about what she has done to my parents, anguishing over a lost child. The pain that crept into my heart while reading the book was tremendous. As I put myself in Mika's shoes, nothing made sense. Readers visit a world supplied like an ayahuasca retreat filled with visionary wonder. Are the circumstances a figment of our imagination?

The novel is thought-provoking. The waves of uncertainty crash into our thoughts, leaving an unrelenting feeling of unease. I was riding swell after swell of information and concocting my theories. However, the beauty lies within the novel's playful nature to disorientate the reader. Perhaps likening it to being caught in a riptide would be more apt.

The book never overstays its welcome and was my quickest read of the year. This isn't to say there is a lack of depth, for there are many twists and turns, but rather a nod to the author for keeping things on track. A superb novel, one deserving of 4 out of 5 stars!

Many thanks to the East Side Press for the ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

I picked up Caroline Flarity’s In Daylight as I was a huge fan of her earlier YA novel The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter (2019) and as the author has been quiet for the last few years I was intrigued to see what direction she might now take. If you are a fan of YA, exorcist and possession style stories, I strongly advise having a closer look at The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter, which I was very happy to feature in my own YA Horror 400 almanac.

Whilst Caroline’s debut is clearly a horror novel, In Daylight treads different ground and edges into the realms of science fiction. I also urge caution in reading reviews about this book as there are huge spoilers in other published commentaries. I was grateful to open the book completely blind, because of this the potential spoilers instead landed like huge curveballs I was not anticipating. When researching The YA Horror 400 Caroline contributed this fascinating comment:

I didn’t base The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter on folklore; I based it on documented claims of paranormal phenomena. Many people have reported near-death and out-of-body experiences, as well as communication from deceased loved ones. Studying these reports, I realized belief systems can play a part in how individuals interpret so-called mystical events. In my novel, I explore the power of belief in ghosts and demons.

In Daylight has nothing to do with demon possession but Caroline alternatively builds her family driven story around another intriguing concept which is equally well presented and researched as the supernatural is in her debut. The bomb drops into the story around the 30% mark and gives the reader a lot to wrap their heads around. Written in the third person, the story also deals with family generational trauma, mental illness, secrets and although I would not call them dysfunctional, they have a lot of problems which centre around the disappearance of the eldest sister (Naomi) almost twenty years earlier. Bubbling in the background is the distrust of the government, fear of surveillance and the fact that the elderly father of the family is beginning to show significant signs of decline.

In Daylight has a great opening, main character Mika Crane has escaped the tiny, small forest town where her family live and had a great job city working in finance. However, when about to give a big presentation to investors she has a panic attack and as a result loses her job. The story is then picked up with her back at home, working shifts with her sister Paige and mother in their rural 24 hour convenience store. Mika has had a taste of life beyond small town life but struggles to see how she might escape the monotony of the shop, especially with her aging parents.

Showing signs of delusion and dementia, her father tries to remove a supposed tracking device from his face and her mother becomes an unfortunate internet star after attacking a robber with a baseball bat. Mika struggles to hold down relationships, suffers from killer insomnia and at the root of all their issues is the fact that the family do not know what happened to Naomi, who has been gone for nineteen years. Her disappearance dominates the family’s psyche.

This is a great hook to hold the narrative together for the first third of the story, as Mika’s father announces a private detective has found Naomi, with Mika being chosen to track her down. To say more of the plot heads into spoiler territory, but the relationships between the sisters was a major highlight, particularly the flashbacks to the events which originally led to Naomi disappearing. Being eight years older than Mika, the reader feels the power of this abandonment and how it impacts Mika, even if it was almost twenty years ago.

There is a lot bubbling under the surface in this highly absorbing novel, which heads into realms I was not anticipating, exploring the idea of why somebody might feel uncomfortable in their own skin, or lack a sense of belonging. I particularly enjoyed the group meetings (a bit like Alcoholics Anonymous – but not for booze) in the second half of the story. The anticipation of the appearance of Naomi was also nicely handled and she was nothing like I anticipated her to be. However, although they had not seen each other in so long, I loved the way their relationship just naturally picks up.

Loaded with secrets, mistrust, ambiguity and complicated family relationships, In Daylight covers significant ground. Mika is the main character, but Caroline Flarity never portrays her as a hero or a savior, and she becomes more likable as the level of damage she suffers from is revealed. If you like thrillers which cross genres (big style) then In Daylight has much to offer, and considering it features some heavy themes is written in a refreshingly easy going page-turning style.

I was unsure what I would think about this but honestly, it was better than expected. The author managed to create an atmospheric world with well developed characters that were easy to get behind. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

Damn Caroline still got it! I really like how she always keeps a shadow over her stories that feels like something is creeping up on you. Her writing feels extremely genuine and like she's been doing this for ever! Good job. Would really like a space opera part two of this!

Mika, an unmoored, anxious insomniac, returns to her family’s home and business after washing out of her career as a banker. Her aging and possibly paranoid father alerts Mika to the location of her estranged sister. Mika visits her sister and begins to uncover the truth about why her sister left, and what it means for Mika and her place in the world.

This book was a quick and enjoyable read. I found the ending to be a bit rushed, and I wish there had been more build up and hinting at what was to come. This book would be a good recommendation for someone who is interested in a Science Fiction read but doesn’t want “hard sci-fi.” I also think fans of fiction with psychological elements or themes of mental health might enjoy this book.

A good book! Very easy to read and great for a quick read.

It happens in current time, covers various mental issues and portraits them well in my opinion.

---- SPOILERS ------

In later half of the book we have aliens. I kinda hoped aliens will not be real and just product of their mental health.

Now I kinda want a book about these hive mind aliens that remind me of Borg, just friendly Borg.

I had such high hopes for this novel after reading the tagline. I love psychological thrillers and the idea of an alien abduction story. However, I just felt like this fell flat. Putting aside the fact that there are so pretty necessary edits needed for dialogue and clarity, the pacing of this story felt way off. We didn't get enough time or information to really dive into the extraterrestrials, the mystery "abductions", or the family dynamics. I found myself disappointed by the end result and wishing for more.

This book is marketed as a sci-fi thriller and it did not disappoint. I spent a good bit of the book wondering what was or wasn’t real especially in the setting of this weird “genetic insomnia” this family has. The entire family has random blackouts of memory and that complicates the story even further.

The family in this story also just had a weird dynamic that lends to the overall confusion of the plot. One of the sisters is “missing” for years until a reunion spins the entire family into chaos.

I liked the writing style of this book, it somewhat reminded me of Sayaka Murata’s writing style. The entire story just left me feeling vaguely unsettled but in a way I really enjoyed. This book was just recently published in mid August and is free to read on Kindle Unlimited!

***Imagine I was able to insert the “Aliens” meme guy from Ancient Aliens right here***

This book was definitely interesting. A psychological thriller with sci-fi elements due to aforementioned aliens, the story really builds up the tension. I was stressed a lot of the time with Mika’s paranoia and insomnia. Currently thanking my lucky stars that I don’t suffer from insomnia though bc I would 100% assume that I was an abductee atp. The main character was almost too childish sometimes imo, but she was definitely more likable than her family. The ending felt like a slap to the face, and I def audibly gasped bc noooo and thanks a lot for the alien nightmares that are sure to come

I think this book was an interesting read. The characters were really interesting, and I loved the way the family dynamics were portrayed. The characters had complex relationships that really kept me reading. I did find our main character a bit annoying and childish, but the book took a lot of twists and turns that surprised me and kept me reading. I would have enjoyed the science fiction part of the book more if that big plot point was expanded on for more than the last 15 pages. It felt like a lot of build up with very little pay off. I think it's really hard to do science fiction "right", and this book wasn't worse than any other science fiction, but I don't know that it really stood out to me in its genre. I would have enjoyed it more as a literary fiction where the plot twist was not science fiction related.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review :)

Note to author/editor -- there is a typo at the beginning of chapter 13. It says LCD and should say LSD.

After a tragic accident, Mikas older sister Naomi ran away from home. Her last words to Mika were a warning, that evil lived inside people, urging her not to trust anyone, but herself. Nineteen years later, her father had tracked Naomi down. Mika set off to find her long lost sister, figure out why she left, and bring her home. But the reason behind her sisters disappearance isn't what she expected... & it would change Mika forever.

Strap in for a wild ride with this psychological thriller/sci-fi read. Caroline did a beautiful job immersing you into the lives of the Crane family and the struggles they endure throughout the story. Though, without spoiling anything, the ending felt very sideways to me. It left me with more questions than answers.

Thank you NetGalley and East Side Press for this advanced reader copy.

Trigger warning :strong language, mental health issues, violence/domestic violence, drug use, death

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

‘As your third eye shuts, the garden around you fades to a peaceful darkness.’

How can I write about this book?

Are you ready for a fast paced psychological thriller ?

‘In daylight’ centres around Mika, who reunites with her sister Naomi after two years. The story got its grip for the perfect psychological thriller with a compelling twist and plot. I loved this book for the very reason many will hate it. This got some sensitive warnings and when you start the book you will notice nothing about it. It feels like, it was the writer’s conscious symbol, not without merit. But it’s the edges that make the novel a work of art. As the story progresses, with each page , we will be pulled into the immense panic and paranoia. In the end it consumes all. This book is a jolting reminder of the discomfort and dissonance we hide in order to forget.

It was the reunion she longed for. Then she lost herself.

In Daylight By Caroline Flarity
4⭐️

""Don't you want to be free" Art had asked her that in the woods. She didn't answer him then, but yes, she did want to be free. FREE to find her missing pieces and shake them awake before she ended up like Paige and their parents."

TRIGGERS| Alien Abduction, Runaway, PTSD, Generational trauma, Assault, Drug use, addiction, mental health themes (ie. Self harm)

TROPES
•Sci-fi
•Found Family
•Thriller

🅂🅈🄽🄾🄿🅂🄸🅂
It was the reunion she longed for. Then she lost herself.

Mika’s sister Naomi delivered a terrifying and cryptic warning the day she severed ties with Mika and the entire Crane family. Years later, Mika is plagued by a shapeless anxiety that culminates in a panic attack during a presentation. This career-ending debacle lands her back working the register at her family’s store in the Pine Barrens. When her ailing father tracks Naomi down in New York City, Mika decides to confront her sister about the damage she left behind and unravel the mystery of her departure. After a tense reunion, the two women reconnect—until Naomi shares the secret behind her disappearance, an otherworldly revelation that leaves Mika questioning her sister’s state of mind. Determined to help Naomi, Mika follows her into an increasingly bizarre and shadowy world that threatens to shatter her own reality—a world she might never escape.
,
🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
I am not naive to think there isn’t other life forms out there, but rather contact scares the crap out of me, and as In Daylight unfolded I was reminded of WHY being visited by another life form leaves me in an anxious puddle of fears and racing thoughts.

Beyond the fear there was also a strong under pull of more…Mika and her family have faced a lot of adversity, struggling day to day to find purchase in a world that only saw them for the color of their skin and economic status. Shuffling them into a box society closed the lid and labeled them unworthy. The concept of belonging and acceptance is such a strong human condition, the need to find understanding and support among those you love, your family. To have a true purpose. When Mika strikes out to find her long lost sister Naomi, she hopes to find just that, to find healing for her family.

Mika instead gets Naomi’s story of abduction, is this a delusional explanation for her running away or is she not mentally stable? Either way Mika made a promise to her father -she'd bring her sister home. But events in Mika's life quickly start unraveling and she starts to question her own stability. Could the simple explanation be humans are just not capable of a higher understanding?
I am not naive to think there isn’t other life forms out there, but rather contact scares the crap out of me, and as In Daylight unfolded I was reminded of WHY being visited by another life form leaves me in an anxious puddle of fears and racing thoughts.

Beyond the fear there was also a strong under pull of more…Mika and her family have faced a lot of adversity, struggling day to day to find purchase in a world that only saw them for the color of their skin and economic status. Shuffling them into a box society closed the lid and labeled them unworthy. The concept of belonging and acceptance is such a strong human condition, the need to find understanding and support among those you love, your family. To have a true purpose. When Mika strikes out to find her long lost sister Naomi she hopes to find just that, to find healing for her family.

Thank you to EPS & NetGalley for this advanced reader copy, it was a very thought provoking look at alien abduction, and human conditions.