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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
First things first, the structure of this book is its strongest aspect and brings the best out of the narrative. It flips from the past to the present: the past being Catherine's relationship with Lee, and the present being her coping with the aftermath of the abuse and finding love with someone else. The author's choice in taking us through Lee and Catherine's gradual descent into domestic abuse and the scars it leaves on Catherine after Lee is jailed packs an emotional punch that otherwise wouldn't have been present if we'd experienced the "past" OR the "present."
As much as Into the Darkest Corner is your typical thriller and portrait of an abusive relationship, it focuses on a mental illness that is seldom explored in literature: OCD. Seeing how Catherine develops her paranoia as Lee starts violating her space, and seeing how her lock-and-window checking habits are reinforced as time passes, is heartbreaking. OCD is not treated as a paltry "I'm just a perfectionist!" trait. It is shown as something that utterly exhausts an individual and disrupts peace of mind. It dominates your life, doesn't allow you to rest.
But Into the Darkest Corner doesn't solely focus on the garish abuse; it focuses on Catherine's healing as well. She's motivated to seek help for her OCD and to find her sense of safety again. Haynes shows that life can go on after trauma, that one is not lost or permanently damaged. And that's beautiful and important to write.
Lee is written convincingly. He's the charming, hot boyfriend who presents some warning signs here and there that erupt into full-blown sociopathy by the middle of the book. Having his profession being a cop was terrifying due to the amount of freedom and control it gave him. These type of people do exist and law enforcement, and some go into law enforcement because of the power it affords. Scary thought. (On a side note, Jacob Elordi would NAIL Lee. S2g Nate -- his role in Euphoria -- is two steps away from being Lee himself.)
Amazing story that is worth reading.
As much as Into the Darkest Corner is your typical thriller and portrait of an abusive relationship, it focuses on a mental illness that is seldom explored in literature: OCD. Seeing how Catherine develops her paranoia as Lee starts violating her space, and seeing how her lock-and-window checking habits are reinforced as time passes, is heartbreaking. OCD is not treated as a paltry "I'm just a perfectionist!" trait. It is shown as something that utterly exhausts an individual and disrupts peace of mind. It dominates your life, doesn't allow you to rest.
But Into the Darkest Corner doesn't solely focus on the garish abuse; it focuses on Catherine's healing as well. She's motivated to seek help for her OCD and to find her sense of safety again. Haynes shows that life can go on after trauma, that one is not lost or permanently damaged. And that's beautiful and important to write.
Lee is written convincingly. He's the charming, hot boyfriend who presents some warning signs here and there that erupt into full-blown sociopathy by the middle of the book. Having his profession being a cop was terrifying due to the amount of freedom and control it gave him. These type of people do exist and law enforcement, and some go into law enforcement because of the power it affords. Scary thought. (On a side note, Jacob Elordi would NAIL Lee. S2g Nate -- his role in Euphoria -- is two steps away from being Lee himself.)
Amazing story that is worth reading.
OH MY GOD.
It's been a long time since a book has made my heart pound in my neck, but this one did it. This is Cathy's story - she's young, free and single, with a great circle of friends who all enjoy going out and enjoying themselves. One night, she meets doorman Lee Brightman, and begins a relationship with him. All her friends are jealous, Lee is the perfect man in every way - gorgeous, considerate, and completely devoted to Cathy.
But he isn't. He's an incredibly scary character and he terrified me.
The chapters alternate between 2003/2004 and 2007/2008, and the difference in Cathy is striking, it's almost as if there are two Cathys.
In 2003, she's hopeful for the future and madly in love with Lee, until things go wrong and her life is in danger. In 2007, she lives in London, and she's dealing with severe OCD and PTSD. Her life is ruled by her OCD, she spends hours checking her flat is secure. Tentatively, she begins to heal...until she receives a phone call.
The tension is unbearable at times - particularly in the second half of the book, when we know something awful has happened to Cathy in 2004 but SHE doesn't know it yet. Similarly in 2008, there's a thick sense of dread, one that left me not wanting to read any more.
Couldn't put this down, despite being terrified on a few occasions. Great ending too. Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers, just don't read it at night!
(Also - the kindle edition is 396 pages, not nearly 600 as stated on both editions up there)
It's been a long time since a book has made my heart pound in my neck, but this one did it. This is Cathy's story - she's young, free and single, with a great circle of friends who all enjoy going out and enjoying themselves. One night, she meets doorman Lee Brightman, and begins a relationship with him. All her friends are jealous, Lee is the perfect man in every way - gorgeous, considerate, and completely devoted to Cathy.
But he isn't. He's an incredibly scary character and he terrified me.
The chapters alternate between 2003/2004 and 2007/2008, and the difference in Cathy is striking, it's almost as if there are two Cathys.
In 2003, she's hopeful for the future and madly in love with Lee, until things go wrong and her life is in danger. In 2007, she lives in London, and she's dealing with severe OCD and PTSD. Her life is ruled by her OCD, she spends hours checking her flat is secure. Tentatively, she begins to heal...until she receives a phone call.
The tension is unbearable at times - particularly in the second half of the book, when we know something awful has happened to Cathy in 2004 but SHE doesn't know it yet. Similarly in 2008, there's a thick sense of dread, one that left me not wanting to read any more.
Couldn't put this down, despite being terrified on a few occasions. Great ending too. Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers, just don't read it at night!
(Also - the kindle edition is 396 pages, not nearly 600 as stated on both editions up there)
4.5 stars
this was brutal and really scared me at time. like i got a literal stomach ache reading this but it was good.
tw for rape, abuse, super violent, scary situations toward women.
this was brutal and really scared me at time. like i got a literal stomach ache reading this but it was good.
tw for rape, abuse, super violent, scary situations toward women.
One of the best books i have read in a long time.
The story consists of the main characters whom are; Cathy - a young woman who suffers from
OCD and post traumatic stress disorder, due to the violent abuse at the hand of her boyfriend. Lee- the boyfriend of Cathy who at first sight seems to be very charming, caring but who has a very dark side creating doubt in cathy's mind by doing odd things moving small insignificant objects about and whom creates fear by abusing cathy severely. Sylvia - Cathy's best friend in Lancashire she is a journalist who moves to London to work on the Daily Mail, one of the friends whom doesnt believe issues that Cathy brings up due to his percieved nature but eventually believes her due to commencing a relationship with Lee. Stuart, lives above Cathy who is a Psychologist who teaches Cathy not to let the past and the OCD rule her, they become very good friends and end up married at the end of the book. :)
AN EXCELLENT READ
The story consists of the main characters whom are; Cathy - a young woman who suffers from
OCD and post traumatic stress disorder, due to the violent abuse at the hand of her boyfriend. Lee- the boyfriend of Cathy who at first sight seems to be very charming, caring but who has a very dark side creating doubt in cathy's mind by doing odd things moving small insignificant objects about and whom creates fear by abusing cathy severely. Sylvia - Cathy's best friend in Lancashire she is a journalist who moves to London to work on the Daily Mail, one of the friends whom doesnt believe issues that Cathy brings up due to his percieved nature but eventually believes her due to commencing a relationship with Lee. Stuart, lives above Cathy who is a Psychologist who teaches Cathy not to let the past and the OCD rule her, they become very good friends and end up married at the end of the book. :)
AN EXCELLENT READ
Started it last night - couldn't stop reading it today until I was done. The definition of a page turner! Scary insight into domestic abuse and how it's not as easy as "just leaving".
This is a 2.5 star review for me.
Haynes writes well enough to keep me turning pages even when I wasn't feeling fully invested. So as a page-turner, it's obviously a success.
I liked the way Haynes portrayed her protagonist but the two men in her life, her new wonderful man and her old terrible one, didn't seem to progress naturally.
Still, if you want a quick thriller this one is certainly effective.
Haynes writes well enough to keep me turning pages even when I wasn't feeling fully invested. So as a page-turner, it's obviously a success.
I liked the way Haynes portrayed her protagonist but the two men in her life, her new wonderful man and her old terrible one, didn't seem to progress naturally.
Still, if you want a quick thriller this one is certainly effective.
4.5 stars
It's feel good in the end, but overall, a brilliant, terrifying narrative.
It's feel good in the end, but overall, a brilliant, terrifying narrative.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes