A thriller that you won’t want to put down.
The Woman in Darkness is a captivating piece with well–constructed characters and a plot that has the reader wishing it hadn’t concluded so well or so quickly.
The lead character, Rory Moore, forensic reconstructionist, is a strong female whose insight and inquiring nature allows the reader to bond with her on her journey into a web of intrigue concerning a murderer (The Thief), her father, and a girl named Angela that is a forty year old cold case.
Rory’s Great-Aunt Greta, herself suffering from dementia, is a solid sounding board and in her lucid moments, a bringer of light and inspiration. She won a special place in my heart as I read and felt Rory’s love and respect for the old woman. It is she who plants the seeds for another intriguing case that may come in the future.
Donlea mirrors aspects of the two primary characters against the timeframe of society, showing the different treatment of women who did not fit the norm: Rory, who was nurtured by her family and supported to find her place despite her anxiety and social ineptitudes as opposed to Angela, who in 1979 was institutionalised after being diagnosed with OCD and autism. Their lenses on events are the reason the reader feels that they know both woman as the storyline is revealed.
He takes time to allow the reader the opportunity to have insights into the murderer’s thinking and to try to piece the mystery together, in a race to beat Rory. Modern social media information gathering is featured and it is interesting to see how it melds into ‘old fashioned’ investigation strategies used throughout the story. The decision to base chapters on characters of differing times weaves a reasonably fast-paced story that keeps the reader on their toes. If you are not paying close attention, you may miss the one piece of information that you are looking for.
It is a shame that the initial case brought to Rory is not followed through, but hopefully will be picked up in a future storyline, otherwise it seemed to be a bit of a red herring.
I can see this character becoming one that would develop a following if Donlea wishes to develop a series with her.
This book is an engaging thriller, with many twists and turns that often surprise the reader. It has a spotlight on the dangers and repercussions of secrets and assumptions, touching on several current social issues.
A great way to spend a few hours playing literary detective. I recommend however, that due to the complexity of the story, you set aside enough time to read it in one or two sittings that are close together so you don’t lose the flow.
Reviewed by Leanne Caune
Distributed by: Penguin Books Australia
Released: April 2019
RRP: $32.99
More News
