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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Talk about an opener. Afton is covered in blood and accused of murdering someone. Now, years later she still can't get rid of her reputation. Although, there is one friend that has come back into her life, Sydney.
Sydney needs Afton's help to get out of her marriage. Yet as soon as Sydney came back into Afton's life, it has been shaken upside down again. Afton starts receiving strange calls and she is losing chunks of time and having hallucinations.
This is more of a slower psychological thriller. The events in this story transpire slowly to draw you in and make you think that maybe you are imagining things. I did figure out the storyline but still was satisfied by this book. I would read another book by this author.
Sydney needs Afton's help to get out of her marriage. Yet as soon as Sydney came back into Afton's life, it has been shaken upside down again. Afton starts receiving strange calls and she is losing chunks of time and having hallucinations.
This is more of a slower psychological thriller. The events in this story transpire slowly to draw you in and make you think that maybe you are imagining things. I did figure out the storyline but still was satisfied by this book. I would read another book by this author.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Audiobook Rating: 5/5
I am coming to love Minka Kent more and more with each book I read by her, and After Dark is another perfect example of how talented she is. The viewpoints alternate between Afton and Sydney, and even though I was so sure I had this book all figured out, the twists never ceased to surprise me. There is a little bit of repetition that I noticed, but besides that, I don’t have anything but positive things to say about this twisty little ride. It was a little slow to start but once it picks up momentum it doesn’t quit, and I think this is another book where it is best to go in blind. Afton did drive me a little bonkers at times - like girl go get your money! – but I really liked her viewpoint overall as well as Sydney’s.
This book kills it on audio, and I can’t think of better narrators than Hayden Bishop and Hannah Church. They each voiced their characters so well, that I couldn’t help but feel like these were real people and not just fictional characters. Thankfully, I don’t think either of them are like their counterparts 😆 While the end isn’t completely what I had expected it was thoroughly satisfying and I loved that devious nod to something earlier in the book. After Dark was a satisfying thriller and it felt very short due to the barreling to the end after the pace picked up. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen, and I highly recommend sticking with it because you won’t be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I am coming to love Minka Kent more and more with each book I read by her, and After Dark is another perfect example of how talented she is. The viewpoints alternate between Afton and Sydney, and even though I was so sure I had this book all figured out, the twists never ceased to surprise me. There is a little bit of repetition that I noticed, but besides that, I don’t have anything but positive things to say about this twisty little ride. It was a little slow to start but once it picks up momentum it doesn’t quit, and I think this is another book where it is best to go in blind. Afton did drive me a little bonkers at times - like girl go get your money! – but I really liked her viewpoint overall as well as Sydney’s.
This book kills it on audio, and I can’t think of better narrators than Hayden Bishop and Hannah Church. They each voiced their characters so well, that I couldn’t help but feel like these were real people and not just fictional characters. Thankfully, I don’t think either of them are like their counterparts 😆 While the end isn’t completely what I had expected it was thoroughly satisfying and I loved that devious nod to something earlier in the book. After Dark was a satisfying thriller and it felt very short due to the barreling to the end after the pace picked up. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen, and I highly recommend sticking with it because you won’t be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
The TWISTS in this book made my jaw drop to the floor. I loved guessing and trying to figure it out but Minka Kent stumped me good. My first read by her but definitely going to go read all her backlist books.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
I can count on 1 hand how many books I’ve read that have made me want to simultaneously cry, laugh, gasp and want to throw my Kindle. Absolutely amazing story!
medium-paced
Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy of AFTER DARK! I've read several of the author's books; her others are on my TBR list patiently waiting.
This thriller begins with a bang-up prologue. It has so many elements I love in a story. It starts with a brutal and bloody murder. Yes…this gets the blood pumping right away. A dual timeline from two POVs alternates between the present and 2003. Afton and Sydney are 17-year-old besties. Afton is somewhat of an outcast with an unpleasant home life. Sydney is popular and has a wonderful family and boyfriend. Then, one night, Afton is accused of violently killing Sydney's father during a blackout. Afton is found to have several mental issues. I love characters with mental health issues!
The twists Ms. Kent wrote into this story are unique, twisted, and unpredictable. Even though Afton is an accused murderer, I couldn't help myself. I was rooting for her from the beginning.
This is a book to read without checking out the description first. You're in for a treat if you haven't read this author before.
This thriller begins with a bang-up prologue. It has so many elements I love in a story. It starts with a brutal and bloody murder. Yes…this gets the blood pumping right away. A dual timeline from two POVs alternates between the present and 2003. Afton and Sydney are 17-year-old besties. Afton is somewhat of an outcast with an unpleasant home life. Sydney is popular and has a wonderful family and boyfriend. Then, one night, Afton is accused of violently killing Sydney's father during a blackout. Afton is found to have several mental issues. I love characters with mental health issues!
The twists Ms. Kent wrote into this story are unique, twisted, and unpredictable. Even though Afton is an accused murderer, I couldn't help myself. I was rooting for her from the beginning.
This is a book to read without checking out the description first. You're in for a treat if you haven't read this author before.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Afton and Sydney have been best friends since they were children, and now at 37 years old, Afton is a bit of an unsuccessful recluse working nights at a hotel while Sydney is married with three children and from the outside, a life to be envied. When she was 17, Afton was tried for the murder of her mother's lover- who was Sydney's dad. Sydney's family has shown Afton unimaginable forgiveness and has never abandoned her, despite her own mother doing so. Afton has always had blackout fits of rage and has been treated and medicated for years, and it seems that Sydney has always been there to support her. But as the story plays out, Afton has to come to terms with the fact that maybe Sydney doesn't have her best interest at heart after all.
I've read all of Kent's books and I really enjoy her style of writing. In After Dark, there's duel points of view, Atton and Sydney, and multiple timelines that are easy to follow because of the dates at the beginning of the chapters and how the chapters that take place in the past are italicized. Loads of secrets come unraveled throughout this story, and it seems we have not one, but two, unreliable narrators. There was good character development throughout the story without adding unnecessary details. This made for a quick, enjoyable read.
My reason for not rating this book a full five stars is based on my personal annoyance at many of the characters' decisions throughout the book. While it all wrapped up nicely and made sense in the end, I did find myself talking out loud while reading, asking, "why would anyone do that?" I guess some things just didn't feel realistic or plausible in the context of daily life.
"My mother always says that inside each of us is a stranger- someone who looks like us and sounds like us but is anything but. She calls it our shadow self. It's where we keep our anger, our shame, our guilt, our darkness."
"Some would argue that time is a human construct, but humans construct a lot of crazy things- how do you know what you can trust? What can you believe? What's genuine and what's not?"
I've read all of Kent's books and I really enjoy her style of writing. In After Dark, there's duel points of view, Atton and Sydney, and multiple timelines that are easy to follow because of the dates at the beginning of the chapters and how the chapters that take place in the past are italicized. Loads of secrets come unraveled throughout this story, and it seems we have not one, but two, unreliable narrators. There was good character development throughout the story without adding unnecessary details. This made for a quick, enjoyable read.
My reason for not rating this book a full five stars is based on my personal annoyance at many of the characters' decisions throughout the book. While it all wrapped up nicely and made sense in the end, I did find myself talking out loud while reading, asking, "why would anyone do that?" I guess some things just didn't feel realistic or plausible in the context of daily life.
"My mother always says that inside each of us is a stranger- someone who looks like us and sounds like us but is anything but. She calls it our shadow self. It's where we keep our anger, our shame, our guilt, our darkness."
"Some would argue that time is a human construct, but humans construct a lot of crazy things- how do you know what you can trust? What can you believe? What's genuine and what's not?"