The Dark: A compelling, heart-racing, up-all-night thriller from Richard & Judy bestseller Sharon Bolton (Lacey Flint)

Wow! This is a brilliant read... dark in so many ways! The drama starts straight away with an opening scene of what might have been an attempted suicide, but might also have been murder. We then quickly switch to present day when a baby is snatched and thrown into the river Thames. Police link this to a terror organisation of 'incels' or involuntary celibate men and follows their efforts to encourage men to frighten women and remove them from positions of power in society.This is the first book I've read featuring Lacey Flint and this story does stand alone, but I think is probably best enjoyed read in order as, although this book is action packed, but its clear there is a lot of prior history!I zoomed through this book and couldn't put it down! The pace is incredible but its also hugely thought provoking and relevant to present times. I had heard of incels but this book made me realise how serious an organisation like this could be if the movement gains enough followers and momentum. Because if this, it didnt feel far fetched at all - it felt like this story could happen - and it is terrifying!This book has everything - mystery, suspense, murder, terrorism, sexism, kidnap, child abduction but the pace of it prevents it being a heavy read. Its thought provoking and scary and shows how easily society as we know it could change. This book will stay with me for a long time. I'm definitely going to go back and read the others! I like Lacey Flint. She's far from perfect but is a good person. I liked her alot!

Loved this brilliant page turner. Put the fear of god into me as a woman. A great story which moves a pace. Will be reading lots more Sharon Bolton books now!

I love the Lacey Flint books and this one was the most breath- holding book I've read for ages. I was reading it throughout the day and several times throughout the night.It's one of those books you want to carry on reading but don't want to get to the end. Great story!

A brilliantly twisty story, a complex heroine and mixed in amongst all that a love story! What more could you ask for? Sharon Bolton at her best!

I am a huge Sharon Bolton fan. Yet again she hasn't left me disappointed. I am a slow reader and I read this in a few days. If you like crime/thriller genre, I highly recommend you buy this book. Actually I highly recommend you buy any Sharon book!!

Really looked forward to this book as I have loved every Sharon Bolton book , but this is just missing something.The premise was brilliant & the beginning but disappointed overall.Won’t put me off Sharon Bolton though

So happy when this landed in my kindle. The idea for the story is a great one. Very little detail was given at the most exciting moments. I won't give any spoilers. So much more could have been included. Lacey Flint fans would have lapped it up. Too much description of surroundings and not enough dedicated to the actual story. Has this put me off buying Sharon Bolton again? No, she's usually damned good so I'll keep buying.

I am a great fan of shark Sharon Boltons books and have read them all. I find them extremely well written very descriptive very atmospheric. It was good to have a new Lacey Flint novel, but I found this one extremely chilling and slightly disturbing.I knew the dark web existed, but I realise that I know very little about the type of content, it may contain, and what made this book, compelling and disturbing Was the possibility that it could become a reality.For me, this was a real page turner.

I liked everything about the book and can't wait for the next

3.5 stars. My apologies to the many readers who enjoy the Lacey Flint books. I have long considered Sharon J. Bolton one of my favourite writers for her stand-alone mysteries. When I purchased this book, I had forgotten that I had previously given low ratings to the few Lacey Flint books I had read in contrast to loving Bolton's stand-alone novels. I stated in a last review that 'I was so done with the Lacy Flint character' but cannot remember my reasons. I realize that I have missed some important events and background by skipping books #3 and 4. I have read some of the shorter novellas and believe The Dark works as a stand-alone as it refers to facts I had missed. I find that Lacy Flint has progressed as an intriguing character with a secret that would demolish her standing as a police officer were it to be exposed. She is in love with Officer Joesbury, and the relationship is growing, but Lacey fears her secret will ruin their relationship. Meanwhile, Joesbury and team are monitoring the Dark Web in search of the identity of 4 incelsgrooming misogynist males who identify as incels into committing acts of terrorism meant to frighten women. The threat from the growing incel movement has led to acts of terrorism in other countries, and the Men Matter movement intends to strip away women's voting rights and prominent positions in the workplace. Women would be placed on a curfew; their place would be the home under the domination of males. Men would control decisions in child-raising and have custody of the offspring. The four incels making anti-feminist remarks on the web have resulted in some of their followers performing frightening and sometimes deadly attacks against women and a baby. Their hatred is also directed towards good-looking and wealthy men who have had success with women and are the object of their jealousy. Lacy becomes their main target after bravely rescuing a baby launched into the Thames River. This was the first incident in acts meant to terrorize women. As their actions against women continue, there are suggestions on the Dark Web that a Day of Retribution is coming and will result in massive deaths. As Joesbury and the team attempt to infiltrate the Dark Web and arrest those responsible for their propaganda, this was a prolonged process that detracted from the book's flow. Some followers influenced to commit attacks have been arrested, but they have no idea of the identity of those who have urged them on. One of the incels had met Lacey years before, gathered much evidence of her past, and threatened to expose her secrets publicly. As the team races towards a deadline and cannot prevent the Day of Retribution, they learn how much they believed was based on fraud. This was a tale full of suspense and unforeseen twists and identified a minor but genuine threat to the progress of modern women in our society.

A thriller with up to date technology and reference to current political and ethical challenges. Sharon keeps up with today's developments.

Loved the book! Although the plot was extremely disturbing. I really hope society never gets to that point! We all need to get along.

Complicated but gripping Story. Definitely worth reading and can't wait for the next one. I personelle found it working how credibly the enmity towards women was depicted.