Darkness, My Old Friend

In the small town of The Hollows, retired detective Jones Cooper becomes entangled in multiple mysterious cases involving both newcomers and long-time residents. The story centers on a teenage girl, a retired cop, and a woman searching for answers about her mother's disappearance decades ago. The interconnected narratives wind through The Hollows' complex history, where old secrets lie buried beneath the surface of daily life. The investigation leads characters to confront both past events and present-day consequences as they search for truth and resolution. Former detective Jones Cooper must navigate through decades of town history while helping others face their own buried truths. Multiple storylines converge as the characters pursue answers about disappearances, family mysteries, and long-hidden secrets. The novel explores themes of memory, identity, and the weight of unresolved past events on present relationships. Through its layered narrative, the story examines how buried secrets shape both individual lives and entire communities.

Readers found the character-driven psychological suspense engaging but noted the slow pacing, with multiple interconnected storylines that take time to converge. Many reviews highlight Unger's skill at developing complex characters and exploring small-town dynamics. Readers appreciated: - Rich character development and psychological depth - The atmospheric setting of The Hollows - Multiple perspectives that build tension - Integration with previous books while standing alone Common criticisms: - Slow first half with delayed plot momentum - Too many character viewpoints causing confusion - Limited action compared to typical thrillers - Unresolved plot threads Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 "The character studies are excellent but the pace drags," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "The interconnected stories create a rich tapestry, though it requires patience as they unfold."

Gone For Good by Harlan Coben A man's search for his missing brother reveals dark family secrets and forces him to question everything he believed about his past.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens The investigation of a woman's disappearance uncovers buried secrets in a small town where everyone knows each other but no one tells the whole truth.

In the Woods by Tana French A murder investigation forces a detective to confront his own mysterious childhood trauma in a small Irish community haunted by past events.

What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross The consequences of a decades-old kidnapping surface in a story that weaves together multiple perspectives and long-buried family secrets.

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon Two parallel investigations, set in different time periods, connect through a small Vermont town's dark history and unsolved disappearances.

🔍 The Hollows, the novel's fictional setting, appears in multiple Lisa Unger books, creating an interconnected literary universe that spans several standalone thrillers. 📚 Lisa Unger wrote her first novel at age 19, but didn't publish her debut thriller until 2003, after working in publishing and travel writing for over a decade. 🏆 The book's title comes from a Simon & Garfunkel song "The Sound of Silence" which includes the line "Hello darkness, my old friend." 🌎 The mining town setting was inspired by real abandoned mining communities across America, where entire towns were deserted once resources were depleted. 💫 This is the second book in The Hollows series, though each novel can be read independently, and it marked a significant shift in Unger's writing style toward multiple-perspective narratives.