Thank you to Bookouture, #partner, for the ALC and e-copy of The Girls in the Dark in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: April 24, 2026
Summary:
I stare at the security footage, heart pounding in my chest. I know who broke into my home—she has a face just like my own. Twenty years ago, my sister was killed and I survived. So how can she be here now? And what does she want?
For years I have been haunted by memories of the almost five months my twin sister and I were abducted and held in darkness. I see her frightened eyes, staring at me for the last time as I whisper a promise to her, the one I failed to keep. “I’ll come back for you…”
The twentieth anniversary of our abduction brings a swirling sense of dread. And when I find a black rose on the passenger seat of my car, it feels like a warning. Not long after, a figure with a face so like my own breaks into my house. My sister.
I tell myself it can’t be true. Her body was never found and I’m sure she died in that room at the hands of our abductor. But what if I’m wrong and she’s back for revenge?
Because for years I’ve kept a secret about what really happened the night I escaped. And as the threats grow, I start to fear for my life. Now it’s clear someone wants the truth to come to light. But if it does, will it destroy everything?
An addictive and breathtaking thriller, packed with nail-biting tension and a shocking final twist, The Girls in the Dark is perfect for fans of Jessica Knoll, Mary Kubica and John Marrs.
My thoughts:
I have long been a fan of Avery Bishop, reading or listening to everything he writes, so it was a no-brainer to request this latest book and because they are always winners for me, I just jumped right in completely blind. Luckily I like dark books because this one is dark…really dark and really twisted!
This story plays on emotions and trauma, in an unhinged and disturbing way. It’s unsettling and pulls you in as the story weaves back and forth in time, filling in details on what happened yet also giving you that sense that something isn’t quite as it seems.
While the trauma is at the heart of this book, I would be remiss to mention the way Bishop explores the relationship between the sisters. It is this relationship that adds so much to the book. Without going into spoilers, I will say it’s this emotional bond that really grabbed me. Their connection, even during the darkest moments of captivity, stuck with me.
And then to get to that ending…I was completely blind-sided in the best way possible! The twist floored me and had me rethinking everything…so much so that I need to reread this one when I get a chance!
Audio thoughts:
When I saw that Brittany Pressley was narrating this, I immediately requested the audio and had zero regrets. She brilliantly captured every emotion, fear and all the tension perfectly.
Bottom line:
This is Avery Bishop at his best!! If you haven’t picked up one of his books, what are you waiting for??
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