Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This story centres around Piper and her husband Gray, and their best friends Julieanne and Quiller. Piper and Julieanne have been best friends for years and years, and have a routine of sorts. Julieanne knocks for her friend one morning for their usual morning run, and her friend doesn’t answer the door, which is highly unusual. The cleaner turns up and they both enter Piper’s home. Everything looks as though the family were in the middle of the usual morning routine but it wasn’t finished, and Piper, Gray, and their two children are missing. Vanished, it seems, into thin air. What follows is an untangling of lives and lies.

This was a great story, a real tangled web of mystery. We are seeing this story unravel and we think we know it’s clear cut but it isn’t. There’s lots of secrets and lies. And everyone seems to have something to hide. The characters were all awful but in a great way that added to the story. The writing was great, and we read from the current time to previous times, so we can thread the story together. I would recommend this book.

Julianne Hillier runs to her wealthy best Friend Piper Holden’s house one Tuesday morning for a planned run only to get no response at the door.  Joined by the Holden family’s cleaner, they let themselves in to discover that all of the family members comprising husband Gray and their 2 children Riva and Artie are missing but there is evidence that the family had made it down to breakfast and there are signs that something “dastardly” may have occurred.

The major Crimes Unit including newly arrived DC Saul Anguish arrive at the house in Midtown-On Sea to investigate the possible abduction.  They are joined by blue haired unconventional Dr Clover March (nicknamed Blue by Saul) a forensic linguist, there to make sense of the message “Make Them Stop” on a mirror.

The story switches between the weeks leading up to and the days directly after the apparent abduction.  As the story unfolds as told by the family members, Julianne, her daughter Emelie, best friends with Riva and the remaining characters, clearly something is not right in the relationships. 

All of the characters are  fundamentally flawed and there are clearly issues in the marriages and friendships and they are really “not nice” people.

This is a very twisty thriller which draws the reader in trying to figure out what is going on.  The kind of novel I love and I read this in a little under 2 days, not wanting to put it down.

I highly recommend this book and others by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley UK and Pan Macmillan for the advanced ARC copy of the book in exchange for a true and fair critique of the book.

Into the Dark is another fantastic story from extremely talented author - Fiona Cummins. Gripping, unpredictable, and nothing is as it seems.

Imagine that you have a routine - every morning you start at your best friend's house where you're both going for a run, until this one time... your friend disappeared with her entire family.

The empty house has an eerie atmosphere when Julianne comes to Piper's place. Together with their cleaner who just arrived they enter the building... the phones are still charging, the breakfast is left half-eaten, the kids' backpacks are placed in the hallway... yet the family is nowhere to be seen.

The police finds traces of blood, confusing clues and is changing the missing persons case into a murder one.

The secrets, betrayal and greed are hidden, and when they unravel, the reader hold their breath!

Not only the main plot is interesting, but the police and forensic on the case seem to be weirdos who have their own darkness that's waiting to be released...

Into the Dark is another must-read by Fiona!

A detective with the clever name of Saul Anguish is investigating the disappearance of an entire family. Piper and her husband Grey, along with their children, Riva and Artie have vanished from their gorgeous seaside home. Their home is a virtual Mary Celeste, with the family’s phones charging and their oven still warm. Ominously, the words Make Them Stop are written on the wall of Riva’s bedroom. Battling his own demons, Anguish must work through the clues to uncover the truth about the Holden family. Cummins is one of the best British crime writers being published today. If you like Mo Hayder, you’ll love Fiona Cummins

I enjoyed this book. One morning, Julianne calls for her friend Piper to go for their usual run. However, it appears that Piper, her husband Gray and their2 teenaged children have disappeared without trace. Their phones are all charging on the kitchen counter and there are signs that they had been in the middle of breakfast. Their cars are still at the house. Police officer Saul Anguish is new to the town and is assigned to the case. He clearly has a dark past. In fact, most of the characters in this book are not how they appear and some are downright evil. There are many twists and turns to the plot and it will keep you on tenterhooks right to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

The Place: Seawings, a beautiful Art Deco home overlooking the sweep of the bay in Midtown-On-Sea.

The Crime: The gilded Holden family - Piper and Gray and their two children Riva and Artie - have vanished from the house without trace.

The Detective: DS Saul Anguish, brilliant but with a dark past, treads the narrow line between light and shade.

One autumn morning, Piper's best friend arrives at Seawings to discover an eerie scene - the kettle is still warm, all the family's phones are charging on the work top, the cars are in the garage. But the house is deserted.

With many characters and subplots, which are all tied up at the end, only makes this a more intriguing read. The characters all had a dark side. I did find the authors writing style a little difficult to get into. No one is quite who they seem. we get the perspectives of different characters as we regularly move between the days before and after the disappearances. There's lots of twists in this gripping and page turning book. I could not put this book down.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #PanMacmillan and the author #FionaCummins for my ARC of #IntoTheDark in exchange for an honest review.

In the whole of this book I was most fascinated with Saul Anguish and Dr ‘Blue’ more than the crime, although it did have some interesting twists and turns. I felt that Piper and her family’s disappearance was going to be another rich family domestic situation where the real family are very different to their insta-perfect lives and I guess that did happen, but not in the way I expected. I didn’t like either woman or their husbands and I didn’t find myself rooting for anyone in particular. I thought their teenage daughters Riva and Emilie had an interesting toxic relationship that could have been more developed, such as why there was such rivalry and was it borne out of the unhealthy relationship between their mothers. The men were dreadful so I thought it was original for the purpose of the disappearance to revolve around the women and in a unique way. These were not natural earth mother types of women and are living under layers and layers of lies to the point it must be hard to keep up. As we moved towards the end there were a few extra surprises to these women that I really enjoyed.
Saul being one of the investigating officers is a stroke of genius. He has a lot of the behaviour of a serial killer with his trophies and crime scene dioramas. I wondered how much of this might have come from a need to understand his suspects. His immediate attraction to Blue really brought my attention to them - both misfits in a way. Her disability was brilliantly thought up and left her vulnerable and I think that’s a state a lot of women with disabilities can relate too. They’re both real anti-heroes.

I loved ‘When I Was Ten’, so I knew I would love this and I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed!

Such fantastic secretive and dark characters! I didn’t know who or what to believe, this book is perfectly demonstrates the measures people will, selfishly!

I really enjoyed the dual timelines and the build up to the disappearances, I also liked the link to Piper’s childhood.

I really liked Saul and Blue together, fingers crossed to a book of their own!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Into the Dark is billed as a dark and gripping crime thriller about revenge, greed, ambition and the true cost of friendship and it certainly lives up to expectations.

Seawings is a beautifully Art Deco home overlooking the bay of Midtown-on-Sea. Joke to the Holden family, Gray, Piper and their fifteen year old twins. They live a gilded life but one day the whole family disappears without trace and it’s down to detective DS Saul Angish to investigate.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter, it’s dark and devious and everyone seems to have their own secrets. Great characters and a plot line that builds chapter on chapter, this book was impossible to put down. Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author for the chance to review.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

This is an absolutely brilliant psychological thriller! So well-written and with such a cleverly constructed plot, I didn't want to put it down.

Set in an upmarket beachside neighbourhood of Midtown-on-Sea, the main storyline revolves around two families: the Hilliers - Julianne and husband Quiller (he's an estate agent but likes to control his wife to the 'nth degree), and children Emelie and her brother Henry: the Holdens - Piper and husband Gray who's a financial adviser, and fifteen year old twins Riva and Artie. We're talking about opulent houses, private schools and, of course, money. Julianne and Piper are very best friends but neither of them had the best starts in life.

One Tuesday morning Julianne calls for Piper ready for their morning run, except she discovers the whole family have seemingly disappeared mid-breakfast - phones, wallets, keys and back packs are still there. The cars are all still there. There's a mist of blood on a low-hanging chandelier and a message on Riva's mirror - MAKE. THEM. STOP. written in blood. DS Saul Anguish, who had just transferred to the area, and DC Eliot Williams are assigned to this missing persons' case initially, but when blood is found it becomes a murder enquiry.

The story is told from 5 days before the family go missing up to that Tuesday morning, and then the police investigation following that. We have several points of view gradually feeding into the actual disappearance, but the narrative becomes increasingly darker and menacing as the story progresses.

Because of the writing on Riva's mirror, Dr Clover March, a forensic linguist, joins the investigation team. Saul is absolutely fascinated by her - they seem to make a connection; he calls her "Blue" because of her hair colour. Saul has his dark and secret past, but Blue has her secrets too.
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This is a story about revenge, obligation, greed and envy. It's not all about Julianne and Piper, it's about their children's envious relationships, as well as the mothers' relationships with the fathers. I haven't encountered DS Anguish before, but he has violent and sometimes murderous thoughts which pop into his head, indicative of a dark past and, quite frankly, darkly amusing. I'd like to see how a relationship with Blue could develop, I think they could be quite a dangerous couple.

I thought the epilogue was really good - very fitting.
A complex and gripping plot; the writing flowed effortlessly (to the reader).

What more can I say without giving away spoilers - just brilliant!

Fiona Cummins has a talent for hooking readers immediately from the very first line.
I was hooked in a similar way with When I Was Ten, from that first line, Into The Dark is no different. Fiona also has a knack for looking at domestic life, day to day life, through a very dark twisted lens.

The setting is Midtown-on-Sea, a moneyed coastal town, inhabited by impeccably groomed women, trophy wives of their financially successful, entitled husbands. The main characters are Piper and Julianne, and their respective families. Saul and Blue are also very interesting, blurring conventional lines. I have no idea if these two characters will appear in another book, but I would be very interested to read more of their future, and pasts. Piper Holden’s whole family suddenly and inexplicably disappear one morning, leaving behind all the usual signs of a busy family going about their daily routine. School bags, half eaten breakfasts and mobiles left, as if they simply vanished leaving everything they own. What follows is an intense investigation into the lives of those involved, delving beneath the respectable veneer they present to the world.

This 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ psychological thriller flows very well, and I found myself turning the pages quickly, reading at a pace to start unlocking the mystery of the Holdens disappearance. Even from the start, I felt that the beautiful Piper and Julianne weren’t quite living the dream, as it outwardly appears. As the old adage says, money doesn’t buy you happiness, I feel this could almost be the subtitle for the book.

I liked how this book started and introduction of the main storyline but I didn’t love the main characters.
The main premise is that Piper and her whole family have vanished and the police become involved. Julianne, Pipers best friend discovers them gone.
What follows is a dual timeline going from when the family disappeared and from before they disappeared. DS Saul Anguish has just been transferred into the police team investigating the disappearance and he’s joined by a forensic linguist. This is where the story felt a bit disjointed. I felt the storyline involving Saul and the missing person case were two different books. His character development and back story was distracting from the main story.
I really enjoyed the missing person case and the dual timelines engaged you with clues of why they went missing.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#IntotheDark #NetGalley

In true domestic thriller noir tradition, this story opens with a disappearance. When Julianne Hillier swings by her friend Piper’s palatial home to go for their usual morning run, she discovers no sign of Piper, her husband Gray, or fifteen-year-old twins Riva and Artie. Chillingly, though, there is a message on Riva’s bedroom mirror. Make Them Stop, it reads – and it’s written in blood!
From there, the tension only increases as the narrative takes us back and forward in the weeks leading up to the family’s disappearance to unfold a story with so many plot threads that you wonder just how the author is going to untangle them all!
Fortunately, Fiona Cummins’ masterly pen keeps the reader on course towards enlightenment as she delves deep into the darkness of humanity, reintroducing a character from one of her previous books, young Saul Anguish now a serving police officer working on the Holden case. With a past that continues to haunt and shape him, Saul’s investigatory methods – and his ways of delivering justice – aren’t always by the book.
Meticulously plotted with characters you’ll love to hate – don’t be surprised if you’re drawn to the dark side yourself by the time you finish this read!

Beware the female of the species!

Fiona Cummins writes ‘dark’ very, very well.

This was a master class in the twisty plot and the ever tightening screws of tension. One Tuesday morning Julieanne Hillier arrives at her friend, Piper Holden’s house, at 7:45 am for their regular Tuesday run. There is no answer at the door. She knocks again, wonders what to do, rings Piper but the call is not answered. Soon the housekeeper arrives and they both go in. The kitchen is a scene of breakfast interrupted, warm coffee not finished, half eaten bowls of cereal, the smell of burnt toast. But no sign of Piper, husband Gray or children Riva and Archie.

Police are called. This is the first case for new member of Midtown-on-sea’s Major Crimes Unit, DC Saul Anguish. There is a dark side to Anguish which we learn more about as the book progresses. A message on Riva’s dressing table mirror, written in blood, gets everyone’s attention - “MAKE THEM STOP!” The team has a forensic linguist on call, blue haired Dr Clover March. Saul is unaccountably drawn to ‘Blue’ as he refers to her and there is certainly a strange, edgy chemistry between them. Blue has some interesting insights into the case as there will be more handwriting to be analysed.

The narrative then switches between the weeks and days before the Holden’s disappear and the present. Oh my, this story is full of unreliable narrators and the truth is doled out very sparingly. Every time you think you have a handle on things there is another layer of deceit. Make sure you sitting down so you don’t get dizzy!

The characterisations were excellent even though many of the characters have the reader fooled for a while. They are all, ultimately, pretty horrible people. The plot was murky and twisty and crackled with tension throughout. I also liked the slightly ambiguous ending.

I loved Fiona Cummins’ Bone Collector duology. The second book was particularly chilling and, having just re-read my review of it I am guessing that the Saul in that book turns out to be the Saul in this one. If so, he really is a very dark character and I am mightily impressed! I’m thinking this could potentially have a sequel featuring Saul and Blue. I really hope so. I loved this book and can’t wait for more from Cummins! Many thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

5+ stars!

This book is appropriately named as it is definitely a dark read. There are several different timelines in the book which I initially thought might be confusing but they all work really well together as more devilish details are revealed with each narrative and turn of the page. All of the characters in this story seem to have quite a dark side to them with some perfect love to hate characters. I hope there is a follow on book focusing on Saul and Blue as I would definitely be up for exploring their story some more.

Wow!

Into the dark will keep you on your toes from start to finish! Nothing is what it seems in this book and you have ot read this!

I absolutely loved When I Was Ten, the author's previous novel so was thrilled to receive a digital ARC of Into The Dark. It's set in the coastal town of Midtown on Sea and focuses on two affluent women- Piper and Julianne - and their families. One autumn morning Julianne arrives at Piper's house to discover that Piper, her husband Grey and their teenage children have disappeared. The novel follows different points of view including those of Julianne, Piper and DS Saul Anguish. I found it took me a while to get into this novel and for me the narrative didn't flow well. There seemed to be too many strands and it jumped too much between past and present. I didn't particularly warm to any of the characters and found the character of Saul Anguish annoying and unbelievable. However, I was glad I continued reading as it was ultimately a compelling read that kept me gripped with it's many twists and turns and the author is skilled at looking beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3.5 stars

This book is brilliant. I read it over two days and resented every minute I wasn't reading it! What a gifted author. The plot is really intriguing and clever, with twists and turns throughout. But possibly the best thing is the characters! They're all unique but still all well-drawn and recognisable. They all have a really interesting story but it never feels like that interferes with the plot. Saul and Blue were excellent additions to the story but everyone from the florist to the cleaner to the main characters are fascinating. I can't wait until this is released so I can make everyone I know read it!

This was an excellent book , very clever the way the intricate story unfolded . The tension was soon building as the story unfolded from the past to the present and back again . This author was very good keeping the tension throughout and has an excellent writing style . As for the characters of Saul and Blue they were utterly fascinating. I hope this is just the start of a series of books following these two . I’m so pleased I got the opportunity to read this , thanks Netgallery

Missing persons, cryptic messages and a whole lot of deception draw together to form what is yet another deliciously twisted tale from Fiona Cummins. From the very beginning of the book we are drawn into the mystery with an opening scene that is starts in a surprisingly light and almost upbeat way, but holds a kind of unease as you know that something is afoot. It starts as a gradual tingle but, believe me, by the end of the opening chapter you will be absolutely certain. Something strange has happened to upset the Holden families morning.

What I loved about this book is that the author has taken the seemingly perfect family situation - lavish lifestyle, beautiful home, successful business - and give it a wonderfully dark edge. Nothing is quite as it seems and Fiona Cummins has excelled at taking that suburban utopia and gradually dispelling all the myths and supposition about just how blissful it is. Slowly but surely throughout the book we are treated to a wider glimpse of the Holden's lifestyle, from the points of view of mother and father, Piper and Gray, and to a lesser extent, of their teenage daughter, Riva. It is true that no-one ever knows what really happens behind closed doors, and in this book that couldn't be more true. It examines in depth the 'perfect' friendships and domestic bliss and, just like picking at scabs, it often leaves seeping wound in its wake. There is so much deception, so much misdirection, it is hard to know who to trust, and each new reveal becomes more shocking than the last.

Now I don't think I've hidden the fact that I love the authors first 'series' surrounding The Collector. Devilishly dark, it tapped into everything I love about fiction with a wonderful crime/horror hybrid. Now Into the Dark is not as dark as its predecessors but it is as twisted, in a more domestic noir kind of way. But what really makes a book for me, this one in particular, are the characters. Our main police protagonist in this book is a real blast from the past, and there are so many quirks to DC SaulAnguish's character that fans of the author may recognise. Even if the name isn;t immediately obvious to you, the more we get to know him, the more it will come flooding back. I loved this character, loved the dark edge to him and the battle between doing the right things and doing the things that feel most natural to him. Then there is the 'Blue' aka Dr Clover March. She is a forensic linguist and, it's pretty safe to say, has a few behavioural quirks of her own. Between her and Saul I was completely drawn into the story, keen to see if they would get to the truth of the case. They are great characters I'd really be keen to see again.

There is a sting in this particular tale. Just when you think you know what is happening, the author lobs in a massive curveball to blow your theories apart. There are clues dotted throughout, things that we are privy to that the police may not be and which, if you are paying close attention, will get the scooby senses tingling so you know something is not quite right. Was I completely taken aback by discovering the truth. Maybe not - like I said, the clues are all out there. Was I still blown away by the ending. Absolutely. Expect more shocks and to end the book with a smile. Justice may not always be served in fiction, or in real life, but this time there is a certain satisfaction to the ultimate scene of the book, a very fitting ending to a fantastic read.

Perfectly paced, full of misdirection, unreliable narrators and subtle deceipts, this is another brilliant book by Fiona Cummins. Fans will love it.