Into the Darkest Corner

Mantiene la tensión desde el principio hasta el final. Quizás esperaba más por las buenísimas críticas que había leído. Aún así, me ha gustado. Lo recomiendo.

It's rare that I find book difficult to put down, but at the same time so difficult to read. Into the Darkest Corner is the terrifying, brutal story of a violent and abusive relationship. At times the book made me feel physically ill and I had to take breaks, simply to stop my heart from racing. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, especially those who have experienced anything even slightly similar to what Cathy faced. But if you can keep going and make it to end you are rewarded with a brilliant, heart-wrenching book.

Even as disgusted as I was by much that happens, I was completely gripped. Every good thriller must be a page-turner and Haynes has certainly succeeded on that front with her debut novel. I was desperate for Cathy to find some form of escape and it is this that kept me reading.

Haynes did a fantastic job of structuring the novel so to place the reader in Cathy's perspective. The novel is told through alternating chapters between the past pre-trial Cathy in 2004 and present post-trial Cathy 4 years later. This effectively demonstrates the contrast with the carefree Cathy of the past, who flirts with Lee and enjoys life to the fullest, to the damaged Cathy of the present, who is constantly terrified by the memory of Lee and of the outside world around her. As Lee's manipulating and controlling tendencies escalate in 2004, we witness Cathy's continuing struggle to deal with this same past, as she suffers with paranoia and OCD, driven by a desperation to keep herself safe.

Called “such a fool” by her friends, when she tries to tell them how scared she is of Lee, Cathy is driven to blame herself, her parent's death, anything but the person who is really to blame for what she is put through: Lee. It was heartbreaking to read of Cathy's complete loss of trust of everyone around her and of her loss of hope that anyone will help her. I wanted to be the friend she hadn't had in 2004. In the present, Cathy meets Stuart, who seems to be that friend, but I found it really hard to trust him, to believe that he wouldn't eventually hurt Cathy in some way. Maybe that was just the book rubbing off on me, but I was terrified of Cathy's future and I so desperately wanted her to be able to move on and to have a somewhat happy life.

Cathy's story is one that really got to me. And although I can say it will be nice to read something even slightly happier, Cathy is an inspirational and brave character, who I am certain will stay with me for a long time to come.

Just finished this book and would highly recommend it! Found it difficult to put it down, wanting desperately to find out what happened to Cathy and Naomi!
I loved the fact that it flitted between the Cathy with Lee and the Cathy after Lee! It just made me want to read on and on.
An English author with her first novel - a book you just have to read!