Into the Darkest Corner
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Review
From its uncompromising prologue - a young woman being bludgeoned to death in a ditch - Haynes's powerful account of domestic violence is disquieting, yet unsensationalist. This is a gripping book on a topic which can never be highlighted enough. --Guardian
A very impressive first novel. The pain and frustration of OCD is brilliantly evoked and I winced every time Cathy embarked on yet another ritual. The contrast between Cathy's two lives is cleverly drawn and the hesitancy in her new relationship is very believable. This is a fantastic personal read with plenty for a reading group to discuss. --NewBooks Magazine
Within ten minutes I couldn't put it down. I've always said that I would never be caught in an abusive relationship, as I'd be out of it at the first sign of a problem but after reading this book I realised that it really isn't that simple. There's a superb picture of the burdens of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). It's not enough to check once that the door is firmly locked. What if you didn't lock it properly? There's real dramatic tension in this book and when I got to the end the first thing that I did was to turn back to the beginning again. --The Bookbag
A tense and thought-provoking début novel with dark moments. Its portrayal of obsession is one that will send a shiver down your spine and you'll hope that you are never in that position. But don't look for a "pat" ending - it seems that things never end the way one hopes! This début novel by a police intelligence analyst is certainly well worth the read. --Shotsmag
Our South coast-based book group had been starved of a good book for a month or two, so it was with some excitement that we stumbled across the buzz on Twitter about Elizabeth Haynes' compelling debut novel Into the Darkest Corner. Thankfully starvation swiftly changed to gluttony when we got our hands on the book, as this is a compulsive thriller with sufficient twists and plot turns to keep the most action-avaricious of readers satisfied.
A very impressive first novel. The pain and frustration of OCD is brilliantly evoked and I winced every time Cathy embarked on yet another ritual. The contrast between Cathy's two lives is cleverly drawn and the hesitancy in her new relationship is very believable. This is a fantastic personal read with plenty for a reading group to discuss. --NewBooks Magazine
Within ten minutes I couldn't put it down. I've always said that I would never be caught in an abusive relationship, as I'd be out of it at the first sign of a problem but after reading this book I realised that it really isn't that simple. There's a superb picture of the burdens of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). It's not enough to check once that the door is firmly locked. What if you didn't lock it properly? There's real dramatic tension in this book and when I got to the end the first thing that I did was to turn back to the beginning again. --The Bookbag
A tense and thought-provoking début novel with dark moments. Its portrayal of obsession is one that will send a shiver down your spine and you'll hope that you are never in that position. But don't look for a "pat" ending - it seems that things never end the way one hopes! This début novel by a police intelligence analyst is certainly well worth the read. --Shotsmag
Our South coast-based book group had been starved of a good book for a month or two, so it was with some excitement that we stumbled across the buzz on Twitter about Elizabeth Haynes' compelling debut novel Into the Darkest Corner. Thankfully starvation swiftly changed to gluttony when we got our hands on the book, as this is a compulsive thriller with sufficient twists and plot turns to keep the most action-avaricious of readers satisfied.
Haynes treats the subject matter of domestic violence delicately and with gentle self-assurance. And it's this theme that makes the book so suited to book group discussion, with our group having a lively debate over how we would react in the same situation. `I never thought that simple words on a printed page could create such fear that I'd be checking under the bed every night.' `Couldn't put it down.' `It's curious how a book that deals with obsession, can itself leave the reader obsessed.' But don't just take our word for it, Haynes has been selected as one of Amazon's Rising Stars for 2011, so hers is clearly a name to watch. --Bookgroup.info
Some books are unputdownable. Not many. A few. This one is one of them. It is an absolutely gripping story and from the very first page I was hooked and kept on reading to find out more. It is a story about domestic abuse and the awful consequences that it can have, how life is never the same again. Genre-wise it is somewhere between a mental disorder novel and a psychological thriller but mostly it is the last one.
--WickedWonderfulWords
'Check the locks on your doors and windows and surrender to this obsessive thriller.' --Karin Slaughter
'This intense, gripping account of domestic violence and its aftermath is utterly unputdownable. A stunning debut.'
--S J Watson
Product Description
Catherine has been enjoying single life for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic and spontaneous, Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. But there is a dark side to him and his erratic, controlling and sometimes frightening behaviour means that Catherine is increasingly isolated. Driven into the darkest corner of her world, she plans a meticulous escape. Four years later, struggling to overcome her demons, Catherine dares to believe she might be safe from harm. Until one phone call changes everything...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
285 of 291 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a rule I don't read crime or thrillers. It's not that I haven't enjoyed some (I have) it's simply that there's so much out there and only so much time. And I tend to be drawn to other genres.
However, I heard about this début on Twitter and I had to give it a go. I am SO glad that I did. It's fantastic. Many readers have said what a page turner it is, and I would whole-heartedly agree, but what makes this special is that we know from the outset that Lee is a bad 'un, that no good will come of Catherine's relationship with him, yet Haynes still manages to build almost unbearable tension as Catherine slips from good-time, confident girl to security obsessed, gibbering wreck and back again thanks to the love and concern of neighbour Stuart. Or does she?
The ambiguity of the ending was another thing I loved about this book. Just like the characters it felt real and all too believable. I've heard it said that many crime novels tie things up nicely at the end. That the bad get their just desserts and the good live happily ever after. And it is this deviation from the real world that lends them much of their appeal. With its first person, chatty narration, Into the Darkest Corner flows well and is easy to read. But it is not a comfortable read,and nor should it be. Prepare to be gripped, appalled and stunned. This is a fabulous début. Elizabeth Haynes has a crime convert in this reader. I look forward to her next.
However, I heard about this début on Twitter and I had to give it a go. I am SO glad that I did. It's fantastic. Many readers have said what a page turner it is, and I would whole-heartedly agree, but what makes this special is that we know from the outset that Lee is a bad 'un, that no good will come of Catherine's relationship with him, yet Haynes still manages to build almost unbearable tension as Catherine slips from good-time, confident girl to security obsessed, gibbering wreck and back again thanks to the love and concern of neighbour Stuart. Or does she?
The ambiguity of the ending was another thing I loved about this book. Just like the characters it felt real and all too believable. I've heard it said that many crime novels tie things up nicely at the end. That the bad get their just desserts and the good live happily ever after. And it is this deviation from the real world that lends them much of their appeal. With its first person, chatty narration, Into the Darkest Corner flows well and is easy to read. But it is not a comfortable read,and nor should it be. Prepare to be gripped, appalled and stunned. This is a fabulous début. Elizabeth Haynes has a crime convert in this reader. I look forward to her next.
127 of 132 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having felt a bit confused by the first three apparently unconnected changes in time, (over the first three or four pages) I suddenly realised how the time-shifts functioned and from then on I was utterly gripped by this wonderful thriller. I basically devoured it in two days, and then went back to read it a second time straight away, able now to take it more slowly and enjoy the crafting of the narrative, which is beautifully put together, and very clever.
I don't want to risk any spoilers, so won't talk about plot at all. You just need to read it. But be warned - at times this is a seriously scary book - if you read it late at night, do check the locks on the doors and windows before you settle down.
I don't want to risk any spoilers, so won't talk about plot at all. You just need to read it. But be warned - at times this is a seriously scary book - if you read it late at night, do check the locks on the doors and windows before you settle down.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found this book utterly compelling and literally impossible to put down. The plot has already been discussed here so I won't re-hash that. Suffice it to say that this is a dark, convincing and terrifying account of how Catherine, a young, bright, girl-about-town is transformed into Cathy, self-effacing, crippled by OCD, and barely holding her life together.
The narrative unfolds in two parallel strands: Catherine's past, and Cathy's present - a format I usually find irritating, but it worked perfectly here.
Admittedly, there are some awkward coincidences: her new neighbour's profession, being spotted in London from a bus, the job advert - and a few points that don't really make sense (if you were in fear of your life wouldn't you change your name?), but the sweeping strength of the narrative enabled me to forgive them.
Be warned, this is very dark and disturbing, but also frighteningly plausible. The build up of fear is superb, and the menace is always hovering just out of sight. At the same time, this is an intelligent book with an awareness of sexual and gender politics, and has more important things to say than the average throw-away psychological thriller.
If you loved the early Nicci French books like Killing Me Softly this is probably an excellent choice. Highly recommended.
The narrative unfolds in two parallel strands: Catherine's past, and Cathy's present - a format I usually find irritating, but it worked perfectly here.
Admittedly, there are some awkward coincidences: her new neighbour's profession, being spotted in London from a bus, the job advert - and a few points that don't really make sense (if you were in fear of your life wouldn't you change your name?), but the sweeping strength of the narrative enabled me to forgive them.
Be warned, this is very dark and disturbing, but also frighteningly plausible. The build up of fear is superb, and the menace is always hovering just out of sight. At the same time, this is an intelligent book with an awareness of sexual and gender politics, and has more important things to say than the average throw-away psychological thriller.
If you loved the early Nicci French books like Killing Me Softly this is probably an excellent choice. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Into the Darkest Corner.
For a first novel this is gripping stuff. Took a little while to suss what was going on, after that couldn't put it down. A definite read, recommended.
Published 43 minutes ago by D. ROUTLEY
Excellent!
This is one of the best books that I've read in quite a while. The book is about domestic abuse and the story switches between two timelines - before and afterwards which builds... Read more
Published 13 hours ago by Hollie
"Walk away and don't look back..."
The two timelines - one beginning in June 2001 and the other in May 2005 - are allocated short but well-constructed sections alternating throughout. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Eileen Shaw
Excellent
What a brilliant book, I couldn't put it down. Well written and intense, highly recommended. 5 star, if I could give more I would!!!
Published 2 days ago by Kriss
A must read
Do take notice of the dates when you start to read, they are very important. This develops into a disturbing but addictive read. Read more
Published 5 days ago by G. Owen
Insipring
Cathy's OCD felt very well researched as did the domestic violence which i think added to the haunting elements of this novel. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Willow
Stays with you...
I did not know what to expect from this book and I read it all in one day. I felt anxious, frightened, sick, worried and happy. The story is told with no self pity, no drama. Read more
Published 7 days ago by S. Peggy BLIN
Just do it!
This one crept up on me subtlely and quickly became unavoidably gripping - I ended up trying to ration myself in order to spin it out. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Mrs. Christine Pamela Wait
Kindle
Have downloaded to read on my kindle whilst on holiday in the sun! Book has had great eviews and am finding it hard to not read before I go.
Published 9 days ago by Jules
Compulsive psychological thriller
This is a real page turner, a great read, though very dark at times. I am in awe of the fact the author wrote the first half in a month, which may have influenced the pace of the... Read more
Published 9 days ago by "Dr Hutch"
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