Dark Circles: A Novel

(3.5 stars, rounded up because I think the author really tried to engage me) Olivia Reed is an actress battling demons of substance abuse and her own poor choices that have led to scandals and almost upended her career. Her agent decides that it’s a good idea for her to attend a rehab center, so Jess send Liv to the House of Light in upstate New York, more of a spiritual retreat than a hospital. Once there, Liv sneaks around and discovers the mystery of four girls who disappeared or committed suicide at this eerie home for wayward addicts. Since Liv’s mother disappeared when she was a child, she is obsessed with finding out what happened to these four young woman, so she starts a true crime podcast to try to get the help of the public. This novel was very dark and was more character-driven than plot centered. It was difficult for me to connect with the book because none of the characters was likable or even seemed redeemable in any way. For the first third of the book, I struggled to understand what was going on in the story. The writing style seemed overly complicated to me, with some meandering off the track onto side roads that seemed unnecessary and did not add anything to the central story. In my opinion, this style made the book long and made my attention stray repeatedly. I did keep coming back to the book to finish it and I am glad that I did because there are a couple of unexpected twists at the end. That being said, the slow start was not an enticing way to begin this dark story of obsession, death and addiction. The pace did pick up somewhat about halfway through the book and it did have an intriguing mystery. I just cannot say that I particularly enjoyed the story, the characters or the style, but those who enjoy fiction that is noir will probably enjoy the intrigue and the determined character of Olivia Reed. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”