No Other Darkness by Sarah Hilary

Two boys are left alone to die in a bunker. Years later they are found by the people whose garden was built over the site long after the boys were abandoned. It’s a horrendous crime with very little evidence after so long underground but Marnie Rome is determined to find out who is responsible.

Marnie has spent years in the police and this is wonderfully offset with her colleague Noah’s relative nativity. There is a great contrast of police attitudes within this book, some you’ll love and some you’ll hate. It is fast paced and has a great variety of characters. As soon as you think you have the story figured out another revelation comes along to challenge your assumptions. In this book Sarah Hilary takes a greater look at the psychology of her characters and introduces you to their thought processes in small doses. Bit by bit you get to know more about all of the central characters; their past and the way it influences their decisions in the present.

With such a hideous crime I was worried I wouldn’t be able to read this book, which is why it took me so long to review. The details are there enough for you to understand the nature of the crime, but you aren’t overly exposed to make you feel too uncomfortable. I don’t want to feel sick to the pit of my stomach, but compassion and empathy for those involved. Sarah writes books that I know I’ll be comfortable reading, and I did have a little cry towards the end.

You can buy the book here Amazon.co.uk and here Amazon.com

I received a proof copy of the book from NetGalley, Britcrime and Bookbridgr.

Although this is the second book in the series it can be read as a stand alone novel. You can read my review for Sarah’s first book here Someone Else’s Skin.

4/5