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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
In het verhaal staat Kate centraal. Kate reist naar Antarctica om daar als arts aan het werk te gaan binnen het onderzoeksstation. Het zomerteam vertrekt en Kate blijft over met twaalf anderen. Zij hebben allemaal hun eigen expertise binnen het team. Kate vond ik een interessant personage, langzaamaan wordt er meer verteld over haar achtergrond, de reden waarom ze zo halsoverkop deze kant op is gevlucht. Kate komt over als een sterke vrouw, maar ze heeft ook een aantal grote zwakten die naar voren komen. Dit zorgt ervoor dat ze het werk niet altijd gecontroleerd kan uitvoeren. Via Kate worden de andere personages ook voorgesteld, nog vier vrouwen en acht mannen. Ook deze personages hebben allemaal zo hun eigen nationaliteit, een eigen karakter en eigen sterke en zwakke punten. In het begin zijn al deze verschillende mensen even wennen, maar naarmate het verhaal vorderde bleven ze beter hangen.
Het Donker is geen typische thriller waar een moord wordt gepleegd en een rechercheur op de zaak wordt gezet om het op te lossen. Nee, er hangt het hele boek een geheimzinnige sfeer rondom de dood van Jean-Luc en er gebeuren verschillende gebeurtenissen die ervoor zorgen dat het verhaal spannend blijft. Echt een mega spannende thriller is het niet naar mijn mening, maar door alle onderhuidse spanning die voelbaar is, blijft het wel spannend genoeg om door te willen lezen. Ook de schrijfstijl van Emma zorgt hiervoor. Het leest erg prettig en vlot weg. Ook zorgt dit ervoor dat alle personen in het verhaal verdacht raken, niemand is niet verdacht.
Dit boek is in ieder geval een fijne aanrader voor thriller liefhebbers. Het heeft een opbouwende, onderhuidse spanning die ervoor zorgt dat je blijft lezen. Maar daarnaast bevat het ook fijne vriendschappen, interessante weetjes over Antarctica en een fijne sfeer. Dat maakt deze thriller uniek, naar mijn mening.
Het Donker is geen typische thriller waar een moord wordt gepleegd en een rechercheur op de zaak wordt gezet om het op te lossen. Nee, er hangt het hele boek een geheimzinnige sfeer rondom de dood van Jean-Luc en er gebeuren verschillende gebeurtenissen die ervoor zorgen dat het verhaal spannend blijft. Echt een mega spannende thriller is het niet naar mijn mening, maar door alle onderhuidse spanning die voelbaar is, blijft het wel spannend genoeg om door te willen lezen. Ook de schrijfstijl van Emma zorgt hiervoor. Het leest erg prettig en vlot weg. Ook zorgt dit ervoor dat alle personen in het verhaal verdacht raken, niemand is niet verdacht.
Dit boek is in ieder geval een fijne aanrader voor thriller liefhebbers. Het heeft een opbouwende, onderhuidse spanning die ervoor zorgt dat je blijft lezen. Maar daarnaast bevat het ook fijne vriendschappen, interessante weetjes over Antarctica en een fijne sfeer. Dat maakt deze thriller uniek, naar mijn mening.
So, the doctor at a science base in the Antarctic has died, and they need a replacement before winter kicks in and the place is inaccessible with no daylight for months.
It's a creepy whodunnit in a good setting but seriously, the main character is afraid of the dark, and quite frankly, a terrible doctor.
Utterly implausible in so many parts, but still enjoyable.
Kinda gutted that it isn't a coma dream, and there are no zombies involved though.
It's a creepy whodunnit in a good setting but seriously, the main character is afraid of the dark, and quite frankly, a terrible doctor.
Utterly implausible in so many parts, but still enjoyable.
Kinda gutted that it isn't a coma dream, and there are no zombies involved though.
AMAZING!
Ah, I don’t know where to start. I read this in just over two days, it has so much pace! A proper psychological thriller. The premise was original and exciting: a murder at an Antarctic science station in the middle of winter, when it is dark 24 hours a day - a locked room scenario with no possible escape and 12 suspects, in a hostile environment. The protagonist is Kate, a former A&E doctor who needed a fresh start after some personal tragedies left her reeling - and literally escapes to the end of the earth. She’s also been left with some psychological scars that make her an unreliable narrator, and untrustworthy to the other characters when they figure some of this out. The tense atmosphere just kept ratcheting up, and the mystery aspect was satisfying - I was kept second guessing until almost the big reveal. This is a seriously strong debut, and it’s going straight into my favourite mystery novels from the past year. Read it!
My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ah, I don’t know where to start. I read this in just over two days, it has so much pace! A proper psychological thriller. The premise was original and exciting: a murder at an Antarctic science station in the middle of winter, when it is dark 24 hours a day - a locked room scenario with no possible escape and 12 suspects, in a hostile environment. The protagonist is Kate, a former A&E doctor who needed a fresh start after some personal tragedies left her reeling - and literally escapes to the end of the earth. She’s also been left with some psychological scars that make her an unreliable narrator, and untrustworthy to the other characters when they figure some of this out. The tense atmosphere just kept ratcheting up, and the mystery aspect was satisfying - I was kept second guessing until almost the big reveal. This is a seriously strong debut, and it’s going straight into my favourite mystery novels from the past year. Read it!
My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Kate North is the newly arrived medical provider to a remote Antarctic research station, a replacement for the previous doctor Jean-Luc who died in a tragic fall on the ice. Suspicions swirl as to whether Jean-Luc's death was an accident or an act of foul play.
Two stars for the descriptions of the setting and glimpses of what life may be like on an isolated research station in such an inhospitable environment. But beyond that, I'm afraid The Dark was pretty disappointing. Fifty percent of this book was focused on interpersonal drama in the station, with a lot of sniping and grumpiness among the crew, and Kate putting her foot in her mouth time and time again with her new roomies, while swooning at the cute boys and indulging her pill addiction.
The MC is entirely unbelievable as a medical professional, especially one that went through what she claims early on was rigorous screening and training to get the job in Antarctica. Apparently, that screening didn't include blood tests that would have revealed a serious problem with opioids, and that training didn't include how to offer mental health counseling to the researchers at the station who would be dealing with extreme isolation, homesickness, and being confined in close quarters for a prolonged period of time. Nor did that training enable our hapless doctor to know how to respond to a variety of medical emergencies (or even harsh words!) without raiding the supply cabinet for the nearest pill packet. And did I mention she's afraid of the dark and has decided to spend months in Antarctica during polar night? That about sums up what you need to know about this doc's decision making skills.
At the 50% mark, another death happens but it's not all that shocking or even interesting, and Kate manages to bungle her investigative efforts into this newest tragedy at pretty much every turn.
Early in the book, one character mentions they are reading Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. My best advice to anyone looking for some polar chills would be to read that excellent book instead.
sadly the ending was so flat that it almost went lower and created a hole ://
The Dark' by Emma Haughton has a cracking set-up but doesn't deliver on its potential. Leaving aside some of the more unbelievable aspects of the plot (and there are plenty of them) the bland and functional writing style really doesn't help and nor does the annoying protagonist who is addicted to prescription meds and possesses the singular ability to annoy everyone around her. Do not read this expecting beautiful prose; this was a book published for its plot, and that simply isn't enough in this case.
I really enjoy a good whodunnit, and I'm a sucker for anything set in a snowy/arctic location, but I would have a hard time recommending this to anyone. How on earth did it receive 'crime book of the month' from the Sunday Times?
I really enjoy a good whodunnit, and I'm a sucker for anything set in a snowy/arctic location, but I would have a hard time recommending this to anyone. How on earth did it receive 'crime book of the month' from the Sunday Times?
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved the beautiful setting of this book. It’s great for a locked room, claustrophobic mystery. Unfortunately I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Kate was really irritating and there’s so many other characters that you don’t really get to know too much about them. It’s a slow burner until the end, where it felt rushed. The mystery was ok but not memorable.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes