Darkest Place is the sixth novel by Australian author Jaye Ford and continues her tradition of creating strong likeable female characters amidst a swirling backdrop of secrets and half-truths. 

Darkest Place
by Jaye Ford
Published by Random House Australia
on February 1st 2016
Source: NetGalley
Genres: Thriller / Suspense
ISBN: 9780857985941
Pages: 390

Goodreads

Carly Townsend is starting over after a decade of tragedy and pain. In a new town and a new apartment she's determined to leave the memories and failures of her past behind.

However that dream is shattered in the dead of night when she is woken by the shadow of a man next to her bed, silently watching her. And it happens week after week.

Yet there is no way an intruder could have entered the apartment. It's on the fourth floor, the doors are locked and there is no evidence that anyone has been inside.

With the police doubting her story, and her psychologist suggesting it's all just a dream, Carly is on her own. And being alone isn't so appealing when you're scared to go to sleep . . .

I enjoyed this latest offering from Ford. Carly was a great lead character… She’s been through a lot and – despite this (or because of this) – quite resilient. She’s also self-conscious however, given this past and aware that the police and others may be right and she’s imagining her night-time visitor.

She’s unsure who to trust but eventually shares her story with Nate, her neighbour. He’s got his own cross to bear but there’s a touch of romance… albeit with a hint of menace as Carly can’t be entirely sure her nocturnal guest is imagined. And that it isn’t someone in her building…. including Nate.

Plot-wise we’re kept guessing and Ford introduces an array of peripheral and support characters as potential suspects. That is – of course – if there IS someone playing havoc with Carly’s life.

I was a little surprised Ford divulged the events of Carly’s past so early in the novel. I probably would have liked that eked out a little more to build the suspense as it felt a little anticlimactic and I had to read it a few times to get a clear picture of exactly what had happened all of those years ago.

In addition there’s mention of two ex-husbands, but I somehow missed any detail about the first. I think there was talk of abuse but – like I said – I missed the context… unless it wasn’t explored in detail.

However, despite those couple of glitches in backstory I enjoyed this new psychological thriller from the very consistent Aussie author.

Darkest Place by Jaye Ford was released in February 2016 via Random House Australia.