The Dark Room was an intriguing, entertaining and atmospheric read which I really enjoyed.

Firstly the author does a great job setting the scene in this book and I loved the vivid descriptions of the hotel and it’s surroundings. I really want to visit Cork so I enjoyed learning more about it The hotel sounded amazing with all the beautiful rooms and antique furniture. It’s a place I feel I’d loved to walk around and explore in real life.

The characters were fabulous creations and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. I liked how the author gives the reader the chance to get to know the characters a bit before the story properly kicks off. I felt this helped me understand them a bit more and that I cared about what happened to them. Rachel and Caroline were a fantastic duo, whose conversations often made me laugh out loud. They soon felt like old friends and I had to keep reading to find out what happens to them.

Overall I thought this was a gripping read which pulled me into the story from the beginning with the intriguing quote that starts the story. It is a dark read in places but this is broken up with some funny and touching moments so it doesn’t get too scary. The spooky moments did make me jump at times though as they always seemed to happen when I was least expecting them. The plot goes along at a good pace with the many twists keeping me on my toes. I’m now very interested in reading more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Kirsty for my copy of this book.

The Dark Room is an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing, however, I found it difficult to connect to the story. It was slow in parts - especially in the middle - and I felt like there was a lot going on.

I’m on the fence about the characters. Some were well fleshed out and felt like real people, however some seemed boring, lacking realistic elements, and I couldn’t connect with them. 

Overall, although intriguing, I did struggle to connect with the plot and characters. It was a lot more slow paced than other mystery books I’ve read. The Dark room isn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t for me!

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a typical murder mystery book, with an added touch of gothic horror. The book was suspenseful and captivating. The characters were very well portrayed and overall this was a real page turner.

I will admit I found The Dark Room by Sam Blake a slow starter and I wasn't too sure was it me and the frame of mind I was in. Needless to say five chapters in and I was completely engrossed.
Full of suspense and drama, I turned the pages at quite a fast pace.
Her characters I really enjoyed and the storyline itself superb.
The author created characters Rachel and Caroline who worked together becoming friends whilst trying to solve the mystery.
Hare's Landing had an air of mystery about it, spooky and dramatic almost..
Great idea to go back in time to try solve the mystery
Thoroughly enjoyed it being a standalone from this author..
I am on the blog tour for this one on 16th January so I will come back and post up my review and link then
Thank you for my copy, much appreciated and well done to author Sam Blake, a great story

I think this is sort of like a cosy murder mystery
Two women playing detective
A dog
A big mysterious hotel and grounds
Characters that appear sinister or mysterious or both
I liked the honesty and nods to Rebecca there .i did find it a bit plodding but kept reading, just didn’t feel invested or overly drawn in to the mystery and found I was a bit apathetic and did find the use of quote marks being mimned by her character very annoying ... which may ave been the intention .i suspect the writer doesn’t like it in others and with good effect I was annoyed .just was way too much
ok story and easy read but not as dark a thriller as the title may suggest though yes a hideous crime at its fore it’s a Cosy way of writing

You definitely need your wits about you to keep up with this story!

The story is told from the perspectives of Rachel, who has come to Hare’s landing for safety after her partner and their house boat are attacked, and Caroline, a journalist who comes for peace and quiet while a lawsuit is settled.

Neither woman expects to be caught up in a crime scene, but they are thrown together as a defective trio (with the wonderful Jasper the dog!). With Jasper’s help they uncover a web of crimes and disasters all of which seem linked to the original attacks that brought Rachel to visit.

I felt more connection with Rachel than with Caroline, but both were strong characters. I loved Jasper the dog whose turned out to have a starring role!

A dark and complex story, with several twists and turns.

Rachel leaves London for her own safety and heads to Hare’s Landing Hotel in West Cork. Caroline is a successful crime reporter in New York but when she’s suspended she decides to take a break and finds herself returning to her native Ireland. She soon finds herself drawn into a thirty year old missing persons case and a mysterious death. Jointing forces with Rachel, they try to solve the crimes.

I found this book was a slow burner originally but two thirds of the way in, the pace really picked up. It’s a tense atmospheric thriller that I’m sure many will love. I’d rate this 3.5 stars but have rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Atlantic Books and the author for the chance to review.

A thirty year old murder mystery with a touch of the gothic. The story is mostly set in Ireland in a beautiful hotel called Hares Landing. Set in January the hotel only has one guest, Caroline a journalist from New York who is taking time off. Rachael and her dog Jasper then arrive. They are fleeing from London after her partner Hunter was nearly killed. The two women begin to delve into the tragic history of this beautiful hotel. Little do they realise what they are going to uncover, and that someone is trying to stop them. A new author for me and I love the way she tells a story. I loved the main characters and I feel as though I want to visit this beautiful hotel. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to Atlantic Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A series of events in London, and New York result in two intrepid women arriving at Hares Landing in West Cork. On the surface Rachel and Caroline have no connection to each other. There is something brewing though and it is something dark. I loved the complex cast of characters including Jasper a retired police dog, who would have a starring role if they made this book into a movie - which they should!
The themes of this book are so current and relatable and I found myself guessing and then realising that there was another twist and I was wrong again. Homelessness, and the reason why, people and drug trafficking and corporate intrigue all come together to create a wonderful story that will keep you hooked and reaching to buy another Sam Blake thriller! I am so glad to have discovered this author.

This is a really good mystery thriller. I loved the main characters especially Jasper the lead dog. Dog loving aside he actually played a really good and relevant role within the story. The story is cleverly woven together and keeps you guessing right up until the end. It is a well paced book with a story that keeps moving and evolving to keep you interested. The story wasn’t as edgy or as atmospheric as I thought it might be but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment at all in fact it was quite nice to just go with the flow of the story and enjoy total escapism.

This novel showcases everything I love about a Sam Blake book - intriguing plot, intricate descriptions and intelligent women as protagonists.
The story centres on Caroline, a journalist from America who has gone to Hare's Landing in Ireland to escape her work problems. While she is staying there she meets the other main character, Rachel who is searching for information about a homeless man her partner had been filming for a documentary. Both women become friends as they work together to discover Hare's Landing is hiding many secrets and surprises.
A wonderfully detailed, descriptive and atmospheric book that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

Atmospheric, Dark And Sinister....
Atmospheric and immersive suspense. Two completely different journeys take both Caroline and Rachel separately to Hare’s Landing, West Cork. Not is all as it seems and the pair discover that their seemingly very different quests may be intertwined. Atmospheric and twisting with dark and sinister overtones. Compelling reading.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Atlantic Books for an advance copy of The Dark Room, a stand-alone set in County Cork.

A series of incidents in London encourage Rachel Lambert to seek safety elsewhere and so she books into Hare’s Landing hotel in County Cork on a quixotic mission to uncover the truth behind the death of a homeless man her partner had befriended. Meanwhile Caroline Kelly, a New York based reporter decides to take some time out in Hare’s Landing and consider her future.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Dark Room which is a tale full of twists and turns where the past casts a long shadow. The novel is told from Rachel and Caroline’s points of view, so the reader knows as much as they do. It’s an easy way to get immersed in the novel because they bring a zest and curiosity to their investigation, which morphs from an interest in the homeless man, Alfie Bows’, possible link to Hare’s Landing to a wide ranging attempt to understand the events of thirty years ago, including the suicide of the former owner and a missing persons investigation. Some of it is a bit coincidental but on the whole it’s a well constructed novel that held my interest from start to finish.

It takes a while for Rachel to get to Hare’s Landing but the build up is quite suspenseful as the author forms her case for going there, the reasoning is flimsy and feels a touch contrived but the reasons are not and they win the day. Caroline arrives at the start of the novel, because she’s been suspended, and the reasons for that play out across the novel. I loved the just desserts part of that story, it’s minor but very satisfying. The main plot ramps up slowly as the women gather information and put things together but the action starts coming thick and fast towards the end. It was hard to keep up. It should also be noted that there may be a supernatural element in the novel, like doors slamming, cold spots etc., but the reader can put their own interpretation on these events. They added nothing to the read for me.

The Dark Room is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I found The Dark Room by Sam Blake slightly disappointing with it not living up to its promise and taking a while to get into its stride.

The sypnosis was good and intriguing however the main characters were fairly average which probably didn’t help my enjoyment

What links a homeless man in London to a Country house hotel in the depths of Ireland?
Two women find themselves unintentionally on a quest to find out.
Rachel leaves London after her documentary maker partner is nearly killed on his bike, to get a few days peace and quiet in the safety of Hare’s Landing, a hotel on the coast of Ireland along with Jasper, the dog (who very nearly steals every scene he is in).
Crime reporter Caroline flies in from New York seeking refuge from work troubles.
Almost as soon as they arrive, odd things start to happen at the hotel and it soon becomes clear that someone suspects their motives for being there and is not happy about it.
From spooky smells and music to very real bodies and a lot of bumps in the night, this is a definite page turner. Blake draws us into a world of suspicion and suspense and sets up the plot with all the deft twists and turns you could wish for. The tension gradually builds to a final sharp twist that brings all the different story threads together in a surprising finale.
Definitely one to keep you awake at night.

It took me a little while to get into this book simply because I wasn't super engaged with the backstory it was trying to build but after finishing the book I realise how important that backstory was.
Once Caroline and Rachel got to Hare's Landing I was hooked. I could not put this book down.
I love the girl power that this book represents.
The actual mystery was very well thought out and full of suspense. I couldn't help but imagine myself there and taking part in the investigation.
Favourite character has to be Jasper. He was such a good boy throughout!
Highly recommend this book to any mystery/suspense lovers.

Absolutely brilliant book, one of the best I’ve read for a long time.
The Irish setting was perfect and Hares landing was so atmospheric.
The characters were well written and came to life, I cared about what happened to them, Jasper was gorgeous!
It was fast paced, never dull and the plot itself was eerie and full of good twists.
I will definitely read more from this Author.

Sam Blake has done it again with this dark, atmospheric thriller that makes for an exhilarating read. The Dark Room has two main characters Rachel and Caroline although the spooky rural coastal setting of Hare’s Landing has all the traits of a deeply disturbed character and as a reader you never know whether the goings on are supernatural in origin or those of a menacing threat. It makes for a fast paced read that will set your heart racing as things thump in the night and the two main characters become embroiled in a missing person’s case from thirty years ago.

Caroline, a crime reporter from New York, has come to Hare’s Landing for a bit of reprieve and finds herself drawn to the mysterious death of the former owner Honoria Smyth and her painting that hangs above the fireplace.

Rachel has left London for the safety of Hare’s Landing after her partner Hunter ends up in hospital and their home is broken into.

There’s also the death of Alfie the homeless man who was taking part in Hunter’s documentary.

Things are not as they seem in the coastal setting of Hare’s Landing and Blake does a fantastic job of creating a suspenseful and albeit dark atmosphere while setting up the plot and the ordeals the two women have to face. The tension is palpable and there were numerous times where I found myself anxious about turning the page and not knowing what to expect next. The plot was exceptional and intricate which made for an engrossing read and a finale that I hadn’t anticipated.

Over all, this is a perfect winter’s night read, but be warned you will be lacking sleep by the time you’ve finished. Another well deserved 5 star review for Blake and no doubt another bestseller in the making.

‘The Dark Room’ is the latest compelling thriller from Sam Blake.

There are several distinct strands to the story which combine to create one roller-coaster of a tale:
• first up we meet Alfie, a homeless man who is intend on posting a letter which is his “only chance. A letter which means that “everything will change”.
• then Rachel, visiting Hare's Landing, in West Cork, to search for information about Alfie’s mysterious past. And, to hide from the people who seem determined to hurt her and her family.
• Finally, we have Caroline, who returns to Cork to escape from the lawsuit in New York. Both woman are soon intrigued by Alfie’s story and several mysteries from 30 years previously.

Someone is determined that Rachel and Caroline will not resolve their mysteries. But whether the entire village or just one person is against them is unknown. Plus, there are some unexplained spooky events that suggest someone, something does not want the women to continue their investigations.

From the opening pages, the reader is expertly drawn into the storyline. We know very little about Alfie, but clearly there is a backstory for him and so many questions are raised that the reader is pulled into reading the opening chapters straight away. We quickly learn more about Alfie and his link to Rachel. But there is so much more happening that the reader is not given time to get bored but races along with the swift pace. Blake is careful with the pacing however; while there are numerous events occurring, she gives each of the main protagonists time to settle into their respective storylines so that the reader gets to know the character and can follow easily. By the time that the characters arrive at Hare’s Landing, the reader has built up a relationship and we are ready for the real kick-off of the story. There are twists a plenty in this story and each time that I though, “Ahah, I’ve got it”, the author threw another twist at me – keeping the rollercoaster moving.

The characters are very well-drawn and there’s no fear of one-dimensional characters that are boring or disinteresting. I had to laugh out loud on several occasions when Rachel and Caroline were discussing village life and amazed that everyone knew about their arrival. Definitely an accurate reflection of small village life in Ireland. I also loved the spooky aspect of the story. The possibly of a ghostly presence is a constant throughout the story but does not become a main storyline at any point – rather a supporting one and in this ways adds a fun element of surprise, because the ‘ghostly’ happenings occur when we least expect it and don’t take from this dark and exciting thriller.

‘The Dark Room’ is a stand alone novel and not part of the well-known ‘Cathy Connolly series.