“I don’t know what happened to my daughter.
Only that she’s missing – and I was the last person to see her…“
– In The Dark by Claire Allan
[ In The Dark by Claire Allan ]
My name is Nora Logue. You’ve probably heard of me – most people have.
I am the mother of Daisy Logue. Seven years ago, I took her for a walk in the woods. Only I came out.
I have no memory of what happened that day.
I have tried to rebuild my life. Met a man, had another child – Luca. But I can’t let go of Daisy, or give up hope of seeing her again.
And now, I have the chance to find out what happened to her.But what if pursuing the truth about my daughter risks my son’s life?
[ My Review ]
In The Dark by Claire Allan publishes January 19th with Avon Books /Harper Collins Ireland and is described as ‘a whiplash-inducing, unputdownable crime thriller.’ I have read many of Claire Allan’s book and what I love about them is the strong sense of place that is present across all. I also very much enjoy the way that Claire ties in a character who may have previously featured in one of her other books, even a mention is enough. That recognition is brilliant.
In The Dark is Nora Logue’s story, seven years after the disappearance of her daughter Daisy. Nora and Daisy had a very close relationship as Daisy’s Dad was not really in the picture. Nora always gave Daisy as much love and care as she possibly could. On that fateful day, Nora took Daisy for a walk in the woods. They laughed, they had a lot of fun and they played hide & seek. When Nora couldn’t find Daisy, after a suitable amount of time searching and calling, panic set in.
Distraught, and unable to process what had happened, Nora was found later stumbling around, incoherent and alone. Where was Daisy? Where did she disappear to? Nora was unable to recall what happened that day but, when Daisy was never found, questions were raised and accusations were immediately directed at Nora. How could she have lost her daughter? What did she do to her own child?
After years of fruitless searches, Daisy’s disappearance dropped off the radar. Nora was always stared at and recognised as ‘that woman’ so she lay low and very much kept to herself. She did eventually marry and had a son Luca but Nora could never forget her first born. She loved Luca but he was not her Daisy. Nora spent ages lost in online forums searching for clues of Daisy, with her husband becoming more frustrated with her behaviour over the years. He understood her grief and sorrow but he needed her to be present for Luca’s sake and for the sake of their marriage.
When a documentary maker approaches Nora with a new angle on the search for Daisy, Nora tentatively arranges a meet up but she is afraid. All through the years Nora has been at the butt end of some outrageous behaviour and targeted bullying. By speaking to this documentary maker, is she setting herself up for another fall or is it possible that there is new information to be unearthed about Daisy’s appearance? Will the truth finally be revealed?
As Nora becomes more entangled, she finds herself caught up in something much bigger and soon realises that she has possibly put her son Luca’s life at risk.
Claire Allan takes the reader into the caustic world of the online chatroom where hatred and fear are spewed out by the keyboard warriors. The invasive and downright abusive behaviour depicted is quite disturbing as Daisy’s case is highlighted in the media again. Nora is pushed to her limit, a woman close to the edge but the mob just keep on attacking. This toxic world is frighteningly described by Claire Allan, as the pace of this mystery picks up.
Nora’s character baffled me and I was questioning her innocence as the pages turned. Claire Allan’s portrayal of her is brilliant as the reader is thrown between liking her, mistrusting her and having empathy for her. Is she innocent?
In The Dark is an engaging read, one of those books where the pages almost turn themselves. If you have enjoyed Claire Allan’s novels in the past, then be assured that this will satiate your reading appetite. If you haven’t, then may I suggest you pick up a copy of In The Dark, sit back, relax and enjoy!
[ Bio – Claire Allan ]
Claire Allan is an International Bestselling Author from Derry in Northern Ireland. Her debut psychological thriller, Her Name Was Rose, was published in June 2018. It hit the bestseller charts in the UK, Australia, Canada and is a USA Today bestseller. In the Dark is Claire Allan’s sixth psychological thriller.
Twitter ~ @ClaireAllan
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