I actually read this back in January but have had trouble organizing my thoughts in order to review it. The problem is that it is so spellbinding that I absolutely blew through it. Afterward, I was left feeling like I had walked home during a windstorm – tired but invigorated. But a lot of the details were fuzzy because I read it so fast.
In the Dark is the story of eight strangers who have been invited on an all-expenses paid vacation at a luxurious mountain lodge. The lodge will soon open to the public, but the strangers are there to bid on contracts for the lodge’s services, such as housekeeping and transportation from the airport. But as soon as they arrive at the lodge, they realize they’ve been tricked. It’s not a luxury spa and hotel, it’s an abandoned mansion. Before they can leave, a storm blows in and traps them at the house. One by one, the strangers begin to die or disappear. Is it one of them or someone from the outside? Should they barricade themselves in the house or make a run for it through the storm?
In a subplot told simultaneously, a police detective and a search and rescue leader find a crashed pontoon plane with a body inside. They begin to trace where the plane originated to search for survivors. One survivor is found, with a horrifying tale to tell.
I loved this book. I’m a sucker for a claustrophobic mystery. To me, there’s nothing creepier than being trapped in a secluded location with an unknown killer. The storm added to the feeling of being trapped and the general atmosphere. The mystery, or mysteries as it were, are very well-crafted. The author provides rich descriptions of the scenes. The characters and their backstories are well-developed. It’s just a great novel. I definitely plan to reread it in the future.