Abi has really bad taste in men.
It takes a while for the truth to be revealed about why she is living the way she is because of her deal with the devil named Will.
But other things don’t add up for Abi when she witnesses a frightful event and no one will believe her. Does she even believe what she saw herself?
I kept waiting for the clues to add up because a few things seemed off from the beginning.
It’s a good guessing who is responsible for what sort of book.

I was hooked from picking up the book to the end
the twists were packed in -
I would highly recommend this to anybody who loves a good thriller
especially ones which make you go 'what the heck!'

EXCERPT “In just one second, I ruined my life.”

Abi is slowly rebuilding her life after a messy relationship with her ex Will, she has taken up running and whilst out on a run she is witness to a hit and run. Without her mobile and the man lying motionless in the street, she finds the closest telephone box and calls the emergency services. But when she returns the man is gone. This starts the dominoes falling on Abi’s life as things begin to spiral.

This is a quick read with enough to keep you interested. A suspense thriller with twists.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC.

A fast paced, well written thriller. I really enjoyed being inside Abi's head, I felt akin with her and her thought process. It reminded me a lot of the way I would think in a situation. Also, it was so nice to read a thriller with relatable people in relatable situations.
Full of secrets, twists and turns it only took me about 4 hours to read it, I wasn't bored for a second and the author got right to point which I really liked.
I don't want to explain to much about the plot, your best just going in reading the blurb, as the shock and suspense start right from the first chapter.

This was gearing up to be a five star read for me, but I felt like I was left on a cliffhanger, I wanted to know where everyone's lives went next. What happens with Abi and Mel? Will Abi ever meet anyone normal and stable? I would have liked to have seen her get some form of happy ending! To be honest, the ending felt a bit stunted and fast, that's the reason for the 4 stars (in my opinion).

I enjoyed reading this ARC.. When Abbi is out running early one morning she witnesses a hit and run.. she hasn't got her phone and runs to the phone box to get assistance. ...... only when she gets back to the scene there is no body.......... There is definately more to this book than at a first glance, if you like a physcological thriller, read this one, you won't be disappointed......highly recommend.

Twisty thriller about a woman who witnesses an accident and no one believes her. Abi is trying to rebuild her life after losing her license in a DUI and escaping a terrible situation. She is out running one early morning when she sees a man in a business suit run over by a car. The man appears to be dead and Abi doesn't have her phone so she has to run to the nearest phone box. When Abi returns to the scene a police officer is there but the man who was hit is gone. The police tell her to forget about it but when she sees the man's picture on TV as a missing person, she knows something strange is going on.

Abi is a likable character and I was rooting for her to be believed and at the same time I thought she wasn't making the best choices. With her best friend happily married and expecting a baby, Abi wonders if her life will ever get better. She works nights stocking shelves in a supermarket and her only attempt to get back out there is join a local Spanish class at a community college. Then one day her class has a new student: handsome, friendly John and he takes an interest in Abi. Can her luck be changing for the better? At the same time, Abi is more convinced than ever that the missing man and the man she saw run over are one and the same. The big twist was easy to figure out but the novel was fun and I liked the relationships Abi had with her family and her best friend. Quick, one day read and another win by this talented author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for review.

I recently finished reading Joanne Ryan's latest novel, "Alone in the Dark," and it has quickly become my new favorite, surpassing her previous work, "Don’t Let Her In." I had the chance to read an advanced copy of her earlier book, and I've noticed that Ryan's writing has matured with each new release. Her growth as a writer is evident not only in the technical aspects of her craft but also in the increasingly intricate and engaging plot development.

In "Alone in the Dark," the protagonist, Abi, shares traits with characters from "The Girl on the Train" and "The Woman in the Window," as the author presents her as an unreliable narrator. The narrative introduces subtle clues that connect characters, providing a satisfying sense of validation.

The addition of a poignant side story enhances the main narrative, bringing depth and emotion to the story and introducing a truly unsettling element of terror.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

Caution: Don't read this book if you're alone in the dark, because it will scare the crap out of you! And it definitely did. Had to read it with all the lights on, but oh, how I enjoyed it!

Abi is out running in the early morning darkness when she witnesses a hit-and-run accident, although it looks like the car deliberately hit the victim. She has to leave the scene in order to find a telephone to call the police. And when they arrive, there is no body. Abi is sure of what she has seen, and has trouble believing that the man, who appeared dead, could have gotten up and walked away. Abi is not sure she is thinking clearly due to recent trauma in her life, but she can't forget what she saw that morning and makes a few inquiries, each of which leaves her deeper in trouble with the police, her friends, and whoever wanted the man dead.

This fast-paced thriller held my interest on every page. I couldn't put it down. I did wish that Abi would be a little smarter from time-to-time, but trauma does have a way of influencing people's way of thinking. This is a well-written book and I hope to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

WOW what a read! I found this book so hard to put down once I stared. A fast paced read full of twists and turns.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and it was a quick page Turner. I do think it got bogged out a little bit in the middle when they were trying to set the background for deception with John, but I was able to look past that and enjoy the twist at the end!

Alone in the Dark tells the story of Abi, a young woman who's still trying to move on from a bad relationship. One night, she witnesses a hit-and-run. She gets help for the victim, but when she goes back to the scene, the body is gone. She was sure he was dead, was she? So what happened? With no body, the police has trouble believing her. Has Abi accidentally gotten herself involved in something way more complicated?

This book is a real page-turner. It’s fast-paced and keeps you guessing. I really liked Abi, even though some of her decisions made me shake my head. But hey, if everyone did the logical thing all the time, where’s the fun in that, right? 😊 I also appreciated how we slowly get to know Abi and her backstory instead of everything being dumped on us at the beginning. Sure, there were some predictable moments, but the way it makes you paranoid about who you can trust kept me hooked.

Overall, Alone in the Dark was a quick, enjoyable read. The dual timeline was done really well, and I had a great time with it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Joanne Ryan, and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

Alone in the Dark excels in character development, with each character crafted with depth and complexity. Their interactions kept me engaged, and the slow-burning plot built an intriguing atmosphere. The suspense was well-paced, and I found myself constantly guessing at the underlying mysteries.

However, the slow pace might not appeal to everyone, and while the twist at the end made sense, it lacked the impact I was hoping for. It didn’t quite deliver the shocking revelation I anticipated, leaving me slightly underwhelmed.

Overall, it’s a solid read for those who appreciate well-drawn characters and a gradual buildup, but the conclusion might not satisfy those looking for a truly jaw-dropping twist.

Oh this was very good and got quite dark. I have never read this author before, she certainly knows how to write a good thriller. A few themes running through this book, at first you don't know how they are connected but we slowly find out what is going on when all the strands are pulled together. I would say it was very cleverly written.
I would definitely read more from this author.

I absolutely loved this I finished within a few hours as I could not put it down. It was full of suspense with an eerie feel throughout. I loved the character she was very well developed. I enjoyed how it went from past to present it definitely helped build up the suspense. Overall a fantastic thriller which I can’t wait to recommend. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this fantastic book.

Joanne Ryan’s "Alone in the Dark" starts with a compelling premise: Abi, a woman who witnesses what she believes to be a murder during her nightly run, finds herself at the center of a chilling mystery. Unfortunately, while the concept holds promise, the execution leaves much to be desired.

The novel’s central conflict—Abi’s struggle to prove what she saw against a backdrop of disbelief and danger—has the makings of a gripping thriller. However, the plot unfolds in a way that feels both predictable and sluggish. Despite a solid setup, the story quickly falls into a pattern of repetitive events and clichéd twists, making it easy for readers to guess what might happen next.

One of the main issues is the novel’s pacing. The suspenseful moments are frequently overshadowed by a slow-moving narrative that drags on longer than necessary. Key developments are delayed, and the buildup to critical reveals feels drawn-out, which can diminish the overall tension.

On a positive note, Ryan’s writing is competent, with well-drawn characters and a clear sense of atmosphere. Abi’s character is relatable, and her motivations are well-explored. However, the predictability of the plot and the sluggish pacing prevent the novel from reaching its full potential. The intriguing premise doesn’t quite translate into the high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat experience that one might hope for.

In summary, Alone in the Dark is a decent read with a strong starting point but is hindered by its predictability and slow pace. It’s a book that may appeal to readers who appreciate character-driven narratives, but those seeking a more fast-paced, unpredictable thriller might be left wanting more.

This book was so good! My first read by Joanne Ryan. She knows how to tell a story! Psychological thriller at its best. Abi witnesses an accident and after that nothing in her life is as it seems. Definitely recommend this read!

She witnessed a murder.... but nobody's dead. It was a quiet night, like any other, when Abi went for her usual nighttime run. It was her escape from all the stresses of life, the thing she did so she was stronger than the man who once hurt her so badly. But then - as she turns a quiet corner - she sees a car hit somebody. Rushing forward, as the driver screeches off into the night, she realises the man on the road has already died. After rushing to call for help, Abi returns to find a policeman already waiting. But there's no body. No one is there. Abi knows what she saw. But everyone thinks she's lost her mind. Everyone except one person who wants her to stay silent.... forever.

Only sleep kept me from finishing this book in one sitting. Abi witnessed a hit-and-run accident, but after seeking help, the man's body had disappeared. Abi is trying to get her life back on track after the breakup of her relationship and a criminal conviction. You never know who you can trust in this story that's sinister and dark. I liked Abi for lots of different reasons. I was desperately turning the pages, wanting to see how this twisted story unfolded. It's told in the then and now format.

Published 19th August 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #JoanneRyan for my ARC of #AloneInTheDark in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Alone In The Dark’ written by Joanne Ryan in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

During an early morning run Abi Redmond watches as a suited man runs from a side road and seconds later a car coming from the same direction speeds up before driving over him. Abi tries to help and puts her jacket over him while she runs to the nearest phone box to call the police and an ambulance. On her return a police sergeant is already there but it’s clear he doesn’t believe her as the man’s body has disappeared. Abi is fairly certain the man was dead and if he was then what’s happened to his body.

This is the third book I’ve read by Joanne Ryan and in my opinion they’re getting better and better. ‘Alone In The Dark’ is a psychological thriller that’s so gripping I haven’t been able to stop reading until I reached the final exciting pages. The plot is intricately woven with masses of suspense, drama and shocking twist after twist, with the tension slowly escalating as Abi tries to understand what’s happening. The two timelines of past and present are perfectly incorporated into the story with excellently described characters who Abi soon realises aren’t who they’re supposed to be, and this alone has kept me guessing as to which of them is lying and why. This is an absolutely fantastic thriller that I’ve enjoyed immensely and thoroughly recommend.

Alone in the Dark is a slow burn mystery that has you pondering what is going to happen next.
Main character, Abi, is out jogging one night and sees a hit and run accident. She does what she should do and reports it to the police. This is when things go way twisty!
So many secrets and lies!
What would you do when everyone thinks you are making things up? Is she crazy? Is she delusional?
You need to read Alone in the Dark to find out.
Perfect for psychological thriller fans.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.