Some Choose Darkness (A Rory Moore/Lane Phillips Novel)

Some people are on the edge. For some, it’s a dangerous and sometimes criminal choice. Then there are those who have intellects that give them no choice. The Thief, a man who is currently awaiting parole falls into the category of choice. Knowing what he has done and craving for more, this man plays the game using his attorney. Angela Mitchell and Rory Moore are those with often misunderstood intellects as autism plays a key role in their makeup.Rory is a forensic reconstructionist who takes over to help when law enforcement is in need for her kind of sight. Now, though, Rory’s struggle is who she must help. As she reconstructs the life of Angela Mitchell, she is blindsided by her own past. Reconstruction on another case, her life partner, and her aunt who slides in and out of dementia will keep her steady and focused.This book will have you twisting and turning. Get ready for a thriller/mystery with an edge. Will someone fall from the edge and choose darkness?

I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is Charlie's fourth novel and may be one of his best! The books main character is Rory who is a forensic reconstructionist, but also has a knack for restoring old dolls which she got from her Aunt Greta. She takes on the hardest cases, even some cold case, that couldn't be solved by the experts, and solves them.When her father unexpectedly dies, she is left dividing up the cases in his law firm, except one that is going to go to trial very soon. After speaking with the judge, he insists she takes it on. She must represent 'The Thief.' He is suspected and charged with killing five Chicago women, but no bodies were ever found. He is coming up on parole, but Rory finds a file in her father's law office that suggests he may not be so innocent. She must map together what her father knew after he is gone and there is only one person that might have a few answers.This book had me engaged from the beginning and the end is twisted and unbelievable. I am an avid reader of psychological thrillers and in no way did I predict what was going to happen. My heart pounded with the characters and I also sat shocked with the characters, thinking how could this be happening (in a good way). I'm thrilled Mr Donlea will be writing more books in the future and can't wait to see what he comes up with in the future! I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!!

This suspense filled thriller was a great way to kick off 2020.<b>SUMMARY</b>This story is told from multiple points of view and two different time lines. Rory is the main present time narrator, Angela is the main narrator from 1979.Rory is a <i>unique</i> woman with a nearly photographic memory, social anxiety and OCD. She is a non-practicing attorney who recreates crime scenes and solves cold cases for the Chicago police. When her attorney father dies unexpectedly, she is left to settle his affairs as both an only child and an <i>in name only</i> partner in his law firm. Rory was surprised to find out her father had represented a notorious murderer forty years ago and is still retained by him. His staunch, continued defense of this man and the work he continued on this man's behalf seems completely out of character for Rory's dad. As she starts investigating her father's connection to this man, she just keeps finding more and more questions.Angela is also <i>unique</i>. She is a mildly autistic, OCD woman in 1979. She was terribly misunderstood as it was very difficult for her to live in a time before autism was well known. After she met her husband, Thomas, her life began to feel <i>normal</i>. She was able to manage her symptoms better as an adult, she finally had a real friend, she had a nice home and Thomas made her feel safe. She was actually very happy for the first time in her life.Angela's story picks up in the summer of 1979 in Chicago. The whole city was shaken by a series of missing women, over just a few months four women had disappeared. There were no suspects and no signs of the missing women. The whole city was living in fear.Angela, with her OCD, was fixated on the disappearances. She was determined to find some sort of pattern to it all and to discover who was responsible. As she dove deeper and deeper into her research, she began to regress to her worst OCD symptoms, scratching her skin, pulling out eyelashes and losing sleep. She was losing control. Finally, her research led her to the person who committed the crimes but immediately after contacting the police with the proof, she disappeared, becoming the fifth victim.In 2019, Rory realizes she is now responsible for her father's notorious client, dubbed <i>The Thief</i> by the press. The Thief has a parole hearing before she could possibly find him another attorney so she, reluctantly, helps secure his release.Eventually, the stories converge and all is revealed.<b>WHAT I LOVED</b>The suspense was fantastic! The name of The Thief is revealed about 2/3rds of the way through the book, yet the book still maintains the element of surprise. I have to admit I was shocked to find out The Thief's identity. It was not at all what I was expecting.I loved the Chicago setting, it was a perfect place and time for the story. The dual time frames, 1979 and 2019, worked well with the plot particularly in regard to how technology is used to solve crimes now versus in 1979.I loved the idea of a main character with autism before anyone understood the condition. I can't imagine what she would have gone through.I enjoyed Charlie Donlea's writing style, she uses enough detail to make you <i>feel</i> the setting and the characters without slowing the plot.<b>WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE</b>As with many thrillers, there were some coincidences that felt a little unlikely and a couple characters who felt a little <i>too smart</i> or a little <i>too dumb</i>.<b>OVERALL</b>Another great book by Charlie Donlea. It seems like there could be a series, if so, I would read the next one for sure.

Another great book by this author. SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS is exactly that: dark! But it is not a downer by any measure. The author introduces us to a wonderful new character in Rory. Autistic and with OCD, Rory is a forensic crime expert who has a predilection for Lord Dark Stouts. The story Donlea unfolds is thrilling, unique and satisfying. The villain is dastardly and evil to the core. Much of the plot, and reveals, unfolds at a steady pace, but the twists come fast and furious near the end. Great read. Now I want a Lord Dark Stout. At 15% alcohol, the beer’s a beast.