Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. However, I’m really sorry, but I couldn’t even manage to finish the first chapter. There were so many names introduced and nothing grabbed my attention to want to carry on reading. Life is too short!

I can't work out what this is about. The author writes in such long sentences that by the time I get to the end I've forgotten what the gist of it is.. Maybe I'm just not in the right frame of mind at the moment...post Christmas blah and all that , but I'm struggling with it. I can give this only a neutral 2* review at this stage.

This author has a very engaging, sometimes challenging, style and I found it really a joy to read. The story is complex at times, but I found myself reading for the writing itself as much as for the plot, so I had patience in getting back to the story itself when things seemed to flow off in an odd direction. The story is multi-layered and I found it compelling as a whole.

This is a case of a novel with good writing but a plot that is all over the place. It would be much better if they took a new look at the plot and tightened it alot. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

I enjoyed reading this book! I think it was well thought out, had some good twists and turns, and to me personally, nothing was too obvious, just well written. I liked the story and characters. I like the writing style of this author a lot!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Alexander DuCharme did a great job in writing this book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that mystery element that I was looking for and was engaged with the story being told. I was invested in what was happening and thought the characters worked well overall.

Alexander DuCharme’s Dark Pools offers a narrative that aims to intertwine complex themes, but for me, it struggled to find cohesion, ultimately falling short of its potential. While the premise had promise, the execution felt scattered, making it difficult to fully engage with the story.

The plot attempts to weave together various threads—likely aiming for a layered, intricate tale—but the pacing and structure lacked the focus needed to bring these elements together seamlessly. This disjointedness left the story feeling uneven and, at times, hard to follow.

While there are glimpses of compelling ideas and moments where DuCharme’s prose shines, these are overshadowed by a narrative that didn’t quite click. It was challenging to connect with the characters or the stakes, which made it difficult to stay invested in the journey.

That said, readers who enjoy experimental storytelling or don’t mind a more chaotic narrative might find Dark Pools intriguing. However, for those who prefer a tightly woven plot and clear character arcs, this book may not fully deliver.

Ultimately, while Dark Pools had the potential to be a gripping read, its lack of cohesion made it a less satisfying experience for me.