Macabre murders plague a rural town as a
scam-artist psychic races to find the answers in this haunting thriller
from award-winning author Jen Williams, perfect for fans of Camilla Sten
and Alex North.
As a child, Ashley Whitelam could often see
odd things nobody else could: quiet, watchful figures she called the
Heedful Ones kept a strange vigil wherever she went. As an adult, she
keeps these visions to herself, but she’s turned her taste of the beyond
into a career as a “psychic” – parting people from their money with a
combination of psychology and internet research. When the Lake District
is gripped by a series of grisly child murders, Ashley offers her
services to the police for the free publicity. But as Ashley leads the
police on a fruitless search around the small town of Green Beck, she
catches a glimpse of those old ghosts of her childhood and, following
them into the woods, she finds something she never expected: the corpse
of the latest missing child.
The press fly into a frenzy and the
police grow suspicious: either Ashley’s psychic abilities are real, or
she is guilty of murder. Hounded by interviews and interrogations,
Ashley teams up with Freddie Miller, a podcaster covering the crimes. As
they investigate, Ashley realises that there’s no way to distance
herself from these murders: whoever or whatever it is that’s haunting
the Lakes is haunting her, too.
Master of unsettling suspense Jen
Williams is back with another chilling, dark read that will draw
readers into a gruesome and atmospheric nightmare.
In 2004, Ashley Whitelam was selected to visit the lavish Red Rigg house for an adventure at the home of the wealthy Lyndon-Smith family. Every year they sponsor a program for the disadvantaged youth in the London area. From the start, the place is creepy, but Ashley becomes friends with the daughter of their host. She brushes aside her fear until the Heedful Ones (as she calls them) give her a vision of a fire. She called her parents to beg them to come and get her. Her mother accused Ashley of being ungrateful and refused to take her home early. No one would listen to Ashley's warnings and assume it was a little craziness because she is homesick. In the end, Ashley is the only survivor of the house fire. The other children were all killed.
This childhood trauma sets up Ashley's future. She is the primary breadwinner for her family by scamming people desperate to talk to their dead loved ones. Her father controls her venues, and her brother helps her pull off the deception. However, even though we know Ashley's game, she is a likable character with a psychic gift that she doesn't use.
I never know what to expect when I find a new author. I'm thrilled that I tried this book by Jen Williams. I liked the story, for the most part. I found the narrative engaging, with a fair number of good guys and bad guys. The dual timelines, 2004 and present day, are well done.
When Ashley volunteers to help the police find The Gingerbread murderer, her past is revisited, and the police are suspicious of her knowledge. She decides to work with Freddie, a true crimes podcaster, to find more clues.
I suspected the murderer early in the story, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of following Ashley's growth and development. I was disappointed that we didn't see Ashley's reconciliation with Freddie.
Although I liked the epilogue and seeing Ashley after the case was solved,
The Hungry Dark is filled with suspense, and the setting is eerie and well done, making Green Beck another scary character in the story.
Emmy Fenney does an excellent job as the narrator. She sets the stage and the darkness surrounding the story. Her portrayal of the characters is fantastic, and how she lets the fear creep into her voice adds another dimension to the performance. She also highlights the story's atmospheric weird and creepy elements. Well Done!
If you like ghost stories with a bit of drama, murder, and a slow-burn love story, The Hungry Dark is a book for you.
#Netgalley
3.5 Stars
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