Down in a Hole: Book II by Liam James | 2 Stars

Sometimes a series loses its way, and unfortunately, Book II goes a little too far down the rabbit hole.

“Down in a Hole: Book II” ramps up the thrill and grit, but it also gets a bit tangled in its own intensity. We follow Joe, still on his troubled path, as he spirals further into bad choices and questionable company. The book tries to keep you on the edge, but for me, it fell short of gripping. Joe’s night with Anthony, a self-destructive enabler, sets the tone: dark, chaotic, and a little too bleak without enough redemption or growth to hold onto.

The Story
Joe’s desperation and vulnerability are at the heart of this novel, and while he’s a compellingly flawed character, his decisions here make him feel like he’s spinning in circles. When he encounters a mysterious woman in a bar’s basement, things take a steamy but murky turn, leading to tension and a sense of dread, but not much else. Instead of character growth, we get a series of impulsive decisions that, after a while, feel like they're simply rehashing his inner struggles.

Final Take
While it aims for psychological depth and suspense, Down in a Hole: Book II struggles to keep that momentum. The book feels stuck in its own intensity, leaving little room for empathy or connection with Joe’s journey. It’s dark and gritty, sure, but without a clear purpose.

If you’re following the series, you might still enjoy the continuation—but don’t expect it to pull you much further down than the first book already did.

Reading about Man children ruins a book if you're a grown adult and you're acting like a child please fix tha.t

This short story is unnerving and enticing. Joe's thoughts come through in words of art with darkness and sadness throughout. An unhappy man goes to a bar with his friend who he knows is a bad influence. Anthony comes across as a total prick but Joe knows this, he goes to the bar knowing it won't end well. Joe cheats on his wife with what sounds like no real enjoyment and just a chance to implode his life. It was a quick read that dipped in and out of different themes and thoughts.

Overall an interesting read that will keep me thinking and I would read more from Liam James again in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book.