In The Dark - Chris Patchell

5 Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

Marissa Rooney stands in her daughter’s empty dorm room, a half-used vial of insulin clutched in her trembling hand. Brooke has been missing for days. Her roommate hasn’t seen her since that night in the bar. And if Marissa has Brooke’s insulin, it means that Brooke does not.

The missing person’s investigation takes a sudden and deadly turn when the police discover the body of another college student who went missing a week before Brooke. Desperate to find her daughter, Marissa fears time is running out.

But she isn’t alone in her terror. A phantom from Marissa’s past is lurking in the shadows, waiting in the night, and holding her family captive…in the dark.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

When Chris Patchell is not hiking in the woods or hanging out with family and friends, she is an author of gritty suspense fiction and works in hi-tech. Chris fell in love with writing in third grade when she wrote a five-page story on vampires. Although far from perfect, even then Chris’s intricate plot was so good, her father refused to believe that she didn’t steal it from a comic book.

Years later, Chris started writing again. Her gritty suspense novels are filled with drama and angst.

Visit her at her website - HERE

MY THOUGHTS -

Fantastic!
This author has written two books so far - score and SCORE!!! I have read both these books (Deadly Lies and In The Dark) and both are five star books! Chris Patchell has definitely delivered another page turner with In the Dark. This book was every bit as good as Deadly Lies.

A very suspense laden book. I was feeling the edge of my chair the whole way. Not only is this a great suspense thriller but it gets into your heart! Its a little scary and sad in places.

Great character development. Brooke's character is amazing! I truly felt like I was watching it all happen. The one character I surprising didn't like was the mom! I usually can identify with the mom in every story, but I just didn't like her personality. I did, however love the detective - Crawford.

This story has a lot of ups and downs, a lot of twists. There was a time where I thought "What the heck does 'He' have to do with everything? Is 'He' even important to the story?" Well He was of course, LOL. Chris wraps it all up in a great ending that will leave you both totally satisfied and yet wanting more!

The heavy gate groaned shut. Engaging the lock, he pulled the backpack out of his jeep and slung it over his shoulder. It was a rare fall day in the Pacific Northwest, and he planned to take full advantage of the good weather.
    He had work to do.
    He pulled a “No Trespassing” sign from the pack and propped it against the fence.
    With a few sure strokes of a hammer, he nailed it to the post. The dull blows echoed in the quiet woods. Branches and fallen leaves popped and crackled beneath his feet as he worked his way methodically along the ridge, checking the barbed wire fence for gaps. The cinnamon smell of the turning leaves was a sure sign that hunting season would soon begin, and he couldn’t afford to have strangers stumbling onto his property.
    He nailed the last sign to the post.
    There. That should keep the bastards out.
    He turned and started down a rugged trail carved into the steep hillside. A couple hundred feet below, the valley floor glimmered like an emerald in the late day sun. Three cabins stood in the clearing beside the Tolt River. A half-dozen more were scattered along the upper ridge overlooking Lake Langois.
    The place had been a youth camp once, before the tragic drowning of a teenaged girl had destroyed the camp’s reputation. Afterwards, the camp had closed and the cabins had fallen into disrepair.
    It was a shame really. He had fond memories of the place. So while his father spent the summer basking in an alcoholic haze, he’d spent time exploring the woods, far away from his father’s violent mood swings. By any measure, it was a win-win.
    Dappled sunlight shone through the thick canopy of branches overhead. He loved days like this. Alone in the woods, he felt at peace with the world.
    A scream rent the air, shattering the stillness of the afternoon.
    It was shrill. Human.
    Crows fled the safety of the trees, a torrent of black wings flooding the blue sky. Heart racing, he started to run. The uneven ground slid beneath his boots. Branches slapped at his face, and he ran faster, driven on by her panicked cries.
    The valley floor was muddy after the long weeks of rain. The spongy earth slowed his pace as he raced toward the river.
    Another scream. Louder.
    “Help me. Oh God. Please.”
    It was coming from the cabin farthest from the water’s edge.
    His boots pounded up the wooden steps. Hinges squawked in protest as he crashed through the door.
    The stench hit him hard—stale sweat and human waste. His stomach churned.
    At first, he could see nothing, his eyes blinded in the dim light. Then her slender form materialized out of the darkness—a small slip of a girl, barely more than a hundred pounds. She was standing near the center of the room. Her hands bound behind her back. A soiled University of Washington t-shirt hanging from her skinny frame. Pink panties. And nothing else.
    The relief on her face froze the instant she spotted him. A small sob escaped her lips. She stepped back, retreating into the shadows.
    As if she could hide.
    “Now, Kim,” he said. “What was the rule?”
    Her jaw worked, but no sound emerged. She took another pitiful step back, her wide eyes brimming with fear.
    “What was the rule?”
    His voice boomed in the small cabin. She flinched like a beaten dog.
    “No calling out,” she mumbled.
    “I can’t hear you? What’s the rule?”
    “No calling out.”
    “No calling out,” he repeated, smiling thinly. “That’s right. You leave me no choice.”
    “Please,” she said, voice trembling, tears leaking from her eyes. “I’ll do better, I promise. I promise…”
    He stepped toward her, his tread echoing on the bare plank floor. She shrank back, trembling, and stumbled over the bucket. Hands flailing wide, she crashed to the floor.
    He stopped. His six-foot frame loomed above her. She averted her gaze, looking anywhere but at him.
    This will not do.
    He hunkered down and gripped her narrow chin, painfully forcing her gaze to meet his.
    “Please,” she whispered, knowing it was useless.
    Her mouth trembled.
    “Aw, princess,” he said, running his thumb slowly across her swollen bottom lip.
    “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”
    He reached down and unbuckled his belt.

In my opinion - you don't want to miss this one! This author is two for two!

Catch my review of Deadly Lies - HERE 

Thank you "Bostick Communications" for sending me this e-book for my honest review!

Order your copy from Amazon - HERE