This is a thoroughly gripping thriller, and it didn’t matter that it was the fifth book in a series as it stands alone perfectly well with the background information given.

I was particularly interested in the incel storyline, as this is an aspect of human psychology that has long fascinated me, and Sharon Bolton’s exploration here was terrifyingly plausible. So much so, in fact, that I had to keep taking short breaks from reading because the fear and tension was affecting me in real life, but then I was unable to stay away for long and couldn’t stop thinking about the issues raised whether the book was in my hands or not!

There are underlying themes of power imbalance, politics and plausibility, with evil ideas masquerading under a thin veneer of civilised ‘concern’ and it was disturbing to watch how quickly the poison spread.

I had read and enjoyed The Craftsman by this author, but felt that this book was even better, and the dark, personal secret from main character Lacey’s past will definitely bring me back for more from this series… I can’t imagine how that will play out in future cases!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy.

I love the Lacey Flint series, so I was really looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint.

Lacey is back, still policing the river and still living in her houseboat. Finally getting back on track Lacey finds herself drawn into the thick of the action again. A case of being in the right place at the right time (although it may be the wrong time) Lacey goes from drinking coffee with friends to saving a baby from an inflatable on the Thames. This is the start of the work of the incels, working on the dark web, that are ready to unleash themselves on the women of the country. Luckily Joesbury has been following them online with his undercover team which brings him back to the forefront of Lacey's life while trying to stay one step ahead of the gang.

Unfortunately, Lacey's rescue of the baby puts her in the firing line of the incels making her their number on target as an example of everything they hate. Little does Lacey know that one member knows a lot more than she thinks about her and their pasts are about to collide in the future. Has time finally run out for Lacey?

Loved, loved, loved. Bring on the next one! Fab five starts.

I love the Lacey Flint series so I was very happy to find a new book featuring her and to be back in her world. I did find this book incredibly dark due to the subject matter of incels, it felt very claustrophobic at times and it did taint my enjoyment of the book a little as it all felt too close. Having said that it's brilliantly written and the issues are explored so well. I did really enjoy finding out more about Lacey and I wonder how much longer she will be able to keep her past hidden. I very much hope there is more to come in this series.

Lacey is back investigating crimes however this time it’s a group of men targeting women and babies - can she solve the case before someone gets seriously hurt?

I didn’t realise that this book was number 5 in the series however it’s going to give me a good opportunity to go back and read these books in the series. I did feel that it explained the parts of the series well though so I wasn’t too lost. I found the plot quite hard to deal with when babies were in danger but I thought the author had written it well. I liked the characters and the multi pov and really liked how the online crime was written about. This was my first by this author but I’m definitely going to read more!

loved loved loved loved loved. What else can you say about a Sharon Bolton book?

Reading The Dark I’m reminded once again why I LOVE her writing. Writing I can only aspire to.

Halfway through I came across this sentence and wow - “Women’s safety, even their freedom, depended entirely on the kindness of men.” it kind of punches you in the gut.

The Dark is terrifying in that slow creep of a way because in the back of your mind you fear the possibilities. Lacey Flint is a brilliantly complex character I love spending time with and I fancy Joesbury! Read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for this book.

I felt the writing was done well in this book but there was just something missing for me and I couldn't get into it and enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.

I tried my hardest to get into this, but I just couldn’t stick it out. I don’t think it is for me, this may be due to the nature of this book as it was very extreme

It is a joy to be back in the company of Lacey Flint and Mark Josebury and the dark world they inhabit. Sharon Bolton is the absolute queen of dark, tense, tightly-plotted books that keep you guessing all the way to the end, and make you worry constantly for characters you genuinely care about. I thought the exploration into the world of incels fascinating and terrifying, and the plot was genuinely frightening. And gah - it is so clever! I very much love Lacey Flint and Mark Josebury and the will-they-won’t-they thread, and thought the last chapter of this book was so beautifully written, it made me a bit teary. It’s a stunning book, super dark but also with shimmering rays of light and hope at its core.

I love this author and always find her books to be cleverly plotted and full of unexpected twists and this was no different. I really enjoyed this and found myself completely engaged from start to finish

Love this series and love Sharon Boston’s style of writing. Clever, scary but quite disturbing storyline and suspenseful throughout. Had me on the edge of my seat many times.
Lots of twists and turns as usual. Hope this series continues.

Classic Sharon Bolton. Grabs you by the scruff of the neck with tension in droves right from the opening chapters. Loved it!

This is the first Lacey Flint book I have read. I did enjoy it, easy characters to get to know and some twists and turns that I didn’t expect. With headlines about misogyny and violence against women frequenting our real life news feeds along with a realistic online ‘community’ operating through the dark web, this felt like it could almost be real.

Keen to read the other books in this series.

Thanks to #NetGalley ant the author and publisher for a preview copy of #TheDark

Everything a good thrilling page turner should be twists galore, a nerve tingling plot, fear and this book had them all. I could not out it down I was desperate to know what happened next. This is the first Sharon Bolton I have read but will be going back through them all now.
if you love a good thriller, I will highly recommend this book and author.
thank you to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

#TheDark #NetGalley

A quick and interesting read and I didn't want to put it down! I had to find out what happened and finished it in 2 days. Looking forward to Sharon Bolton's next thriller!

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

The Dark is absolutely the correct title for this book, it is indeed very dark and disturbing, not for the faint hearted. When I requested this book I did not realise it was part of a series, I have now purchased the rest of the series to read, based on this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Orion publishers and Sharon Bolton for a copy in return for an honest review.

WOW!! This had me completely gripped within the first few pages.
I can't recommend it enough.

Lacy Flint a police woman with a dark past. Just when she believes that her future is taking a positive turn, a strange figure from her dark past re-enters her life driving a revolutionary anti-female movement. Lacy faces the prospect of having to destroy her own life to stop an adversary who is making it personal on every level.
That sounds like it should be on the book jacket. The Dark is in my view patchy. There are some scenes so well written and so frighteningly realistic that I can honestly say that my pulse raced and I could see and feel every detail as it unfolded. This was top class thriller writing at it's very best, and worth reading because of it.
Against that there were some corny moments, lazy plotting, and personally I believe that public reaction to the perceived revolution was unrealistic. This was 1980's behaviour in 2020.

Wow this book was truly fantastic! It kept me gripped right from the beginning and I could not put it down!
Thank you to Sharon Bolton, NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

I was pleasantly surprised by what I thought was just another run of the mill police procedural. It had some very tense moments, and Lacey Flint was a character with some real depth to her. The crane scene freaked me out (in a good way!) and I'm very interested in reading the rest of the Lacey Flint series, as this is book five.