Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

When a plane crashes near a house, the characters find clues on for gold on a map. Should they go look for the gold or is it a waste of time? Read the book to see what happens and the mystery involving the gold hunting!

Fabulous, engrossing book about a man in midlife who has spent his life fearing happiness. Using plane crashes as a metaphor for always remaining on guard, the author has crafted a beautifully written saga of lives intersecting, with, without revealing any spoilers, a perfect ending.

The characters were relatable as were the range of emotions they experienced as the story unfolded. Highly recommended.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

Darker Than the Sky is an adventure book. It is a page-turner, with the back story of the main character unfolding as we get caught up in his ordeals and expeditions. The author puts us inside the character's head. The hero, Van, takes risks and then questions his actions. Listening to Van's thoughts and observing his actions is not always agreeable, as the reader may find the hero to be naive and simplistic in his thought process. On the other hand, it reminds me of the Sacketts' series by Louis L'Amour. Although not a western, per se, it reads much like one, right down to the rattlesnakes, gold, and guns. The descriptions of hills, back country and all aspects of the terrain around northern California are detailed and easy to picture. We are present in every locale Van finds himself, able to smell the dry grasses, feel the heat, the grime, the sweat. Darker Than the Sky is a fun and engaging book that will keep the reader entertained right to the end.

Darker Than the Sky by Matt Tracy is a highly recommended adventure tale and the story of a man's life.

Van always ties plane crashes to bad things happening in his life, so when a plane crashes near his ranch in Northern California, he is conflicted. Before the pilot succumbs to his injuries, he tells Van to save the toolbox in the plane. The box is filled up with mostly undecipherable notes concerning searching for lost gold. The notes do bring new clues to an old treasure map Van owns. This leads to a gold seeking camping trip with his son Josh.

Van and Josh pack their equipment, take horses, and head into the mountains to look for gold. During the trip Van takes to opportunity to bond with his son and shares his life story. They also meet Russ, another man out camping who Van knew when they were children. Russ tells great stories around the campfire while drinking whiskey, but there is a sense of danger around him too.

There is a Western vibe to the narrative, based mainly on the setting and action, but it is also a deep dive into Van's psyche, his life story, family, regrets, ambitions, and insights. The writing is slightly uneven. It is excellent in much of the story, especially in the descriptions of the land and wilderness, in action scenes, and as the two search for gold. It is engaging when Van is sharing his life story. It becomes less compelling when the narrative wades into his thoughts, feelings, regrets, musings, and emotional healing.

Van is a fully realized character considering there is so much written concerning his history, thoughts, memories, and struggles in the past and present. The association of airplane crashes with his personal fate is thoroughly explored. Josh is less explored as a character.

Enjoy Darker Than the Sky for the Northern California setting, the action/adventure story and the deep dive into a man's life. Thanks to BooksGoSocial for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Somewhere between a Western and an allegory sits this book of one father's reckoning with his past, his relationship with fate, and how to find the courage to go on. The books hinges around a trip that the father and son make into the mountains and includes plenty of fireside chats, reminiscences and a few random characters along the way. It's a simple book in many ways but a heartfelt one and a reminder of the things that actually matter most in life.