Darkside: A Novel - Softcover

"Given the shallow pool of prospective victims and suspects, it takes real skill to write a plausible whodunit about an undetected serial killer running amok in an English village. . . . Set against a landscape that would tax anyone's sanity, Bauer's grim tale deploys a morbid wit that's positively wicked."--The New York Times Book Review

"Bauer joins such contemporary masters of psychological suspense as Ruth Rendell and Minette Walters with her twisted and tricky second novel . . . The shattering conclusion pulls no punches and will leave many readers stunned, even as they realize how everything fits together."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Another riveting psychological thriller. . . . suffused with pitch-black atmosphere, Bauer's novel keeps readers guessing until the deliciously unsettling conclusion. No sophomore slump here--fans of Ruth Rendell and Minette Walters would do well to make room on their shelves for Bauer."--Library Journal (starred review)

"Like Minette Walters, Bauer excels at depicting the psychology behind the crimes, and she's not afraid to take some bold risks with her plotline. Melding the classic horror setting of a small, rural town with an atmosphere of creeping dread, this is sure to appeal to both crime-fiction and horror fans."-- Booklist



"Genteel and suspenseful . . . a most promising career."--Kirkus Reviews

"Probably the most shocking ending you'll read this year. Belinda Bauer is the most disturbing new talent around."--Val McDermid

"In her murky tale, Bauer plunges into the realm of the psyche, a brilliant twist . . . adding the final flourish to a nightmarish story where a young woman forfeits a bright future to the ravages of a particularly cruel disease, a murderer bides his time, and the angry diatribes of an investigator are met with shuttered windows and locked doors."--CurledUp.com

"Belinda Bauer won the CWA Gold Dagger for her first crime novel, Blacklands, and she's produced a barnstorming follow-up with Darkside . . . Bold, mordant compassionate, Darkside confirms Bauer's reputation as a significant new talent."--The Sunday Times (UK)

"Tense and imaginative."--Guardian (UK)

"Happily the dark horse is not a one-trick pony . . . [Darkside] is even more accomplished [than Blacklands]. . . . depicted with a wit and warmth that make the macabre bits seem all the more horrible."--The Daily Telegraph (London)