Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A thought provoking and gripping dystopian thriller. Interesting world building and gripping story.
It's well written and I found it interesting even if I'm not sure if I would be interested in living in a world where there's not parity but disparity even if the other way round.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's well written and I found it interesting even if I'm not sure if I would be interested in living in a world where there's not parity but disparity even if the other way round.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly readable.
This is a world where women are in charge.
Men and boys from the age of ten years old, all where tags around their ankles and are under a strict curfew. From 7pm until 7am they must remain in their homes. Break this rule and you'll find yourself in a prison cell.
The reasoning for this harsh law - known as the Prevention of Femicide Act which was enacted in 2023 - is to keep women safe.
And so far crime levels have remained at an all time low.
That is until a body of a yet unidentified female is discovered in a park. Who could have a committed such a horrific crime? I mean the males of this world couldn't possibly be involved or could they?
I loved After Dark.
So much so, that I read it in under three hours.
Taking the format of moving from present to past, with those timelines finally catching up with one another. We are treated to multiple points of view (all of whom are female) and because of this the identity of the both the victim and their killer are kept under wraps for a good portion of the story.
Well played Jayne, well played.
What gives this story its edge for me is the fact that it is totally believable, something like what is written has the possibility of happening somewhere in the future.
It all unfolds at a pace that is just right.
Enough to keep you turning the pages as there is a real need to discover the outcome.
It's timely.
With recent years seeing many females falling victim to terrifying an unnecessary acts of violence at the hands of mostly males, this novel packs a punch with its content.
I tell no lies when I say that I was on the edge of my seat when reading this book.
After Dark is a dystopian novel like no other.
With serious content that remains entirely relevant.
It would be an understatement to say this is thought provoking. I believe this novel provides an abundance of discussions points and is one that will stay in my thoughts for quite some time.
This is a world where women are in charge.
Men and boys from the age of ten years old, all where tags around their ankles and are under a strict curfew. From 7pm until 7am they must remain in their homes. Break this rule and you'll find yourself in a prison cell.
The reasoning for this harsh law - known as the Prevention of Femicide Act which was enacted in 2023 - is to keep women safe.
And so far crime levels have remained at an all time low.
That is until a body of a yet unidentified female is discovered in a park. Who could have a committed such a horrific crime? I mean the males of this world couldn't possibly be involved or could they?
I loved After Dark.
So much so, that I read it in under three hours.
Taking the format of moving from present to past, with those timelines finally catching up with one another. We are treated to multiple points of view (all of whom are female) and because of this the identity of the both the victim and their killer are kept under wraps for a good portion of the story.
Well played Jayne, well played.
What gives this story its edge for me is the fact that it is totally believable, something like what is written has the possibility of happening somewhere in the future.
It all unfolds at a pace that is just right.
Enough to keep you turning the pages as there is a real need to discover the outcome.
It's timely.
With recent years seeing many females falling victim to terrifying an unnecessary acts of violence at the hands of mostly males, this novel packs a punch with its content.
I tell no lies when I say that I was on the edge of my seat when reading this book.
After Dark is a dystopian novel like no other.
With serious content that remains entirely relevant.
It would be an understatement to say this is thought provoking. I believe this novel provides an abundance of discussions points and is one that will stay in my thoughts for quite some time.
I’m not entirely sure if I enjoyed reading this book or not. What I am certain about is that I found myself thinking about it and the society portrayed in it which means that at the very least, it has grabbed my attention.
Set in a not too distant future, to stop violence against women, all men over the age of 10 are tagged and are subject to a 12 hour curfew. Despite this, a women’s body is found showing that she has been battered to death.
The book has two timelines, the actual murder investigation carried out in real time and then a timeline four weeks earlier where we meet our cast of characters in the weeks prior to the murder. The murder mystery itself was interesting and I liked the fact that there are different possibilities.
The idea of men being subject to tags and a curfew to keep women safe felt very uncomfortable to me but fiction has a role in exploring ideas that might disturb us. However, what I really disliked about the novel is that there is not a single sympathetic male character. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling anyone’s reading but I felt that there needed to be much more of a balance in how men were portrayed in the book.
I feel that this is book that will definitely divide opinions. I thought it was interesting and will certainly read more by this author.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Set in a not too distant future, to stop violence against women, all men over the age of 10 are tagged and are subject to a 12 hour curfew. Despite this, a women’s body is found showing that she has been battered to death.
The book has two timelines, the actual murder investigation carried out in real time and then a timeline four weeks earlier where we meet our cast of characters in the weeks prior to the murder. The murder mystery itself was interesting and I liked the fact that there are different possibilities.
The idea of men being subject to tags and a curfew to keep women safe felt very uncomfortable to me but fiction has a role in exploring ideas that might disturb us. However, what I really disliked about the novel is that there is not a single sympathetic male character. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling anyone’s reading but I felt that there needed to be much more of a balance in how men were portrayed in the book.
I feel that this is book that will definitely divide opinions. I thought it was interesting and will certainly read more by this author.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
After Dark - Jayne Cowie
‘Sweet good natured ten year old boys became men, and men couldn’t be trusted.’
Men are under curfew, tagged and not allowed out after 7pm. Women are safe, women are free, women hold the power, no longer afraid to go out after dark.
The world has been changed. A woman is murdered late at night, but how could it be a man when a tag is a solid alibi? Isn’t it?
Wow! This book just totally turned my world on its head. The way we live and how we think. I was gripped from the first, chilling, thought provoking and uncomfortable to read, but utterly brilliant and compelling!
It feels near future, a bit dystopian in nature, everyone has a ‘slate’ which your whole life is on, it’s frankly terrifying and although it is set in the UK in my head I was in the USA, not sure why - probably because of the Handmaids Tale vibes.
The women’s POV’s in this book are all at different times in their lives and we see their responses to the curfew, moulded by their experiences, the effect on the men in their lives and the changes it brings to their futures. It is twisty, unnerving and tested my opinions, some of which changed as I read this.
It threw up a lot of interesting issues and I had some really good chats with my husband about this and a ‘what if’ scenario as if this were to happen!
A brilliant read which I really enjoyed and tested my comfort levels for sure!
✩✩✩✩
Thanks to Laura at Cornerstone, Penguin and Jayne Cowie for my copy of this book and spot on the tour
‘Sweet good natured ten year old boys became men, and men couldn’t be trusted.’
Men are under curfew, tagged and not allowed out after 7pm. Women are safe, women are free, women hold the power, no longer afraid to go out after dark.
The world has been changed. A woman is murdered late at night, but how could it be a man when a tag is a solid alibi? Isn’t it?
Wow! This book just totally turned my world on its head. The way we live and how we think. I was gripped from the first, chilling, thought provoking and uncomfortable to read, but utterly brilliant and compelling!
It feels near future, a bit dystopian in nature, everyone has a ‘slate’ which your whole life is on, it’s frankly terrifying and although it is set in the UK in my head I was in the USA, not sure why - probably because of the Handmaids Tale vibes.
The women’s POV’s in this book are all at different times in their lives and we see their responses to the curfew, moulded by their experiences, the effect on the men in their lives and the changes it brings to their futures. It is twisty, unnerving and tested my opinions, some of which changed as I read this.
It threw up a lot of interesting issues and I had some really good chats with my husband about this and a ‘what if’ scenario as if this were to happen!
A brilliant read which I really enjoyed and tested my comfort levels for sure!
✩✩✩✩
Thanks to Laura at Cornerstone, Penguin and Jayne Cowie for my copy of this book and spot on the tour
This is such a thought provoking book, especially in these current times. The idea of a ‘Curfew’ has been raised recently in social media and this gives an insight into what it would be like. Personally, I would rather be the one having curfew so I could stay at home reading
“Sometimes women find themselves in a position where it’s easier and safer to say yes even when they want to say no.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Please read synopsis on title page.
** I really enjoyed this book, and I feel like it’s an important subject to talk about. But please look to the bottom of my review for my opinions on the topic, because although I disagree with the author herself, it’s not something I want to base my opinion of the actual story on. **
I loved it. I honestly did. It’s told from multiple POV, so you know the thoughts of four characters throughout. The switch between the POVs was seamless, and I loved that the characters were built so well. Cass was my favourite, because I think she was relatable in her vulnerabilities that a lot of teenage girls have, and the way she behaves towards her mum is almost typical and predictable for a teenage rebelling. The story was also built well. At the start we know someone is going to die at the end, and the suspense is well built throughout and it’s a complete mystery. It’s also really refreshing to have a completely fresh piece of fiction published. It’s different and truly original.
**OPINIONS**
This is one hell of an important book, but maybe I disagree with the author slightly on what is needed. When we hear about deaths and violence, abuse, rape, it tends to be the women that are scared of the men. We’ve had movements like #MeToo. It’s women that are scared to walk home at night on their own. That are scared to get a taxi by themselves. That need to let their friends know where they are going with their tinder date. This book is set in the future of this. Where men are curfews between 7pm and 7am, and tagged and tracked at all times. But, at the end of the book the women are calling for MORE restrictions for men, to protect women. Ok, when you look at the statistics, there are more violent men than women convicted, but not all men are like that, and the rest of them don’t need to be treated like prisoners. Also, what about the situations where the men are the ones being abused? I could talk about this all day, so I’ll stop this here, but I’m intrigued. How would you approach this in coming years?
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Please read synopsis on title page.
** I really enjoyed this book, and I feel like it’s an important subject to talk about. But please look to the bottom of my review for my opinions on the topic, because although I disagree with the author herself, it’s not something I want to base my opinion of the actual story on. **
I loved it. I honestly did. It’s told from multiple POV, so you know the thoughts of four characters throughout. The switch between the POVs was seamless, and I loved that the characters were built so well. Cass was my favourite, because I think she was relatable in her vulnerabilities that a lot of teenage girls have, and the way she behaves towards her mum is almost typical and predictable for a teenage rebelling. The story was also built well. At the start we know someone is going to die at the end, and the suspense is well built throughout and it’s a complete mystery. It’s also really refreshing to have a completely fresh piece of fiction published. It’s different and truly original.
**OPINIONS**
This is one hell of an important book, but maybe I disagree with the author slightly on what is needed. When we hear about deaths and violence, abuse, rape, it tends to be the women that are scared of the men. We’ve had movements like #MeToo. It’s women that are scared to walk home at night on their own. That are scared to get a taxi by themselves. That need to let their friends know where they are going with their tinder date. This book is set in the future of this. Where men are curfews between 7pm and 7am, and tagged and tracked at all times. But, at the end of the book the women are calling for MORE restrictions for men, to protect women. Ok, when you look at the statistics, there are more violent men than women convicted, but not all men are like that, and the rest of them don’t need to be treated like prisoners. Also, what about the situations where the men are the ones being abused? I could talk about this all day, so I’ll stop this here, but I’m intrigued. How would you approach this in coming years?
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very enjoyable book (audiobook)
Very interesting permise, the curfew on males to prevent male violence.
Liked how the three women's stories slowly entwined alongside the viewpoint of the investigating police officer.
The narrators were all very good, especially those that did "Pamela" and "Sarah.
Will definitely read more from this author.
Very interesting permise, the curfew on males to prevent male violence.
Liked how the three women's stories slowly entwined alongside the viewpoint of the investigating police officer.
The narrators were all very good, especially those that did "Pamela" and "Sarah.
Will definitely read more from this author.
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
This was so fascinating to read, the concept of all Men being forced into a curfew was laughable to me at the beginning no matter what my opinions on whether it was a good idea or not but by the end it seemed completely plausable. This was not the thriller I was expecting but definitely more of a dystopian and I absolutely loved the discussions on domestic abuse against women and the 'Not all men' debate we endlessly see on social media.
This book is definitely pro women and will without a doubt infuriate most men but it brings up some incredibly important factors that women have to be aware of because we face these issues daily.
Cass is a 17 year old girl who I absolutely despised throughout the book, she made stupid statements and decisions. However, it was so fascinating to watch her go from the naive perspective that so many have and then go through the experiences that most of us do and give her the knowledge she needs to keep her safe and protect herself.
I also really enjoyed the pacing and timeline of the story, it jumps around following different characters and then a future timeline where someone has been murdered and the case is being solved. The book was not perfect by any means, I did find that the murder element was a bit boring and I thought predicatble from the midway ish point. However, upon finishing I did realise that the point of the murder was not to be an entertaining plot point. But instead, a lesson to be educated from.
I definitely recommend this story to all women and even men who are open to the discussions on issues women face, but I think the cover can be a bit misleading, so go in with no expectations!
This book is definitely pro women and will without a doubt infuriate most men but it brings up some incredibly important factors that women have to be aware of because we face these issues daily.
Cass is a 17 year old girl who I absolutely despised throughout the book, she made stupid statements and decisions. However, it was so fascinating to watch her go from the naive perspective that so many have and then go through the experiences that most of us do and give her the knowledge she needs to keep her safe and protect herself.
I also really enjoyed the pacing and timeline of the story, it jumps around following different characters and then a future timeline where someone has been murdered and the case is being solved. The book was not perfect by any means, I did find that the murder element was a bit boring and I thought predicatble from the midway ish point. However, upon finishing I did realise that the point of the murder was not to be an entertaining plot point. But instead, a lesson to be educated from.
I definitely recommend this story to all women and even men who are open to the discussions on issues women face, but I think the cover can be a bit misleading, so go in with no expectations!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No