Dark Across the Bay
Ratings8
Average rating3.6
In the vein of John MacDonald's Cape Fear, Ahlborn takes the classic stalker tale and updates it for the modern era. The house sits stoic and slightly askew off the coast of Raven's Head. Its off-kilter windows are both charming and disorienting, its walls of overstuffed bookshelves both comforting and claustrophobic. When Leo and Lark Parrish arrive at their vacation home with their parents, their mother's idea of a quintessential Maine getaway seems like both a blessing and a curse. Lark-a novice novelist-can't wait to find inspiration at the end of a fog-entombed pier. She'll forgive her mother for forcing her into this non-negotiable holiday, but only if she can find her muse among a lapping, rocky shore. And while being trapped in a house with no means of escape is the last thing Leo would consider a good time-especially with parents on the precipice of divorce-he can't help but wonder if maybe the change of scenery will help him shake off the chains of sadness brought on by the death of his closest friend. But what starts off as a relatively benign family trip quickly turns menacing. Leo finds himself face-to-face with what feels like his best friend reaching out from beyond the grave, and only hours after they arrive, Lark begins to receive sinister texts. And then they both see it: someone lurking in the shadows of their rental home. Someone who has been expecting them despite the Parrishes being a thousand miles from home.
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Almost DNF at about 40% but kept at it because of the great reviews about the amazing twists. This book was so dull. The writing was boring, there was hardly any dialogue, the characters were so unlikeable and unrealistic. Should have DNF'd. First book by this author, I don't know if the writing is for me. So sad because the plot sounded so good.
Dark Across the Bay by Ania Ahlborn is a white knuckle thrill ride sure to delight readers. The book opens on the owners of a vacation home returning to their island property to a grisly surprise. Pretty much the rest of the book is the story of how that scene came to be. I have not read Cape Fear, the book the publisher's description compares this book to, but my initial impression is that Dark Across the Bay is a twisty thriller with enough dark imagery to satisfy Ahlborn's horror fans. I was really interested in the four members of the Parrish family and longed to unravel the secrets Ahlborn hinted at throughout the book. I will say that I think she may have laid the cards on the table a bit too soon, and I kind of saw the conclusion coming, but I nevertheless found this a really enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to horror fans, as well as readers of thrillers, which I think is probably the best classification for this book. At the time of writing this review Dark Across the Bay is only available in a limited signed and numbered edition hardback (and possibly lettered edition) from Earthling Publications. Naturally it's also sold out and can only be purchased on the secondary market. HOWEVER, an ebook edition will be published tomorrow, December 7th, 2021. I'm so glad this book is getting a digital wide release, because I think this is a story that will be enjoyed by a large audience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
