Book Review: Into The Darkest Corner – Elizabeth Haynes
Into The Darkest Corner is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you racing to the end. For a chance to win a copy of the book and ask the author a question read to the bottom.
The Blurb
Catherine has been enjoying the single life for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic and spontaneous – Lee seems almost too good to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each in turn falls under his spell.
But Lee’s erratic and sometimes controlling behaviour makes Catherine feel increasingly isolated. Driven into the darkest corner of her world, she plans a meticulous escape.
Four years later, and struggling to overcome her demons, Catherine dares to believe she might be safe from harm. Until one phone call changes everything…
The Review
Into The Darkest Corner is a début novel from Elizabeth Haynes – and long may she continue writing.
A couple of pages in and I couldn’t put this fast-paced, psychological thriller down. I was increasingly drawn into Catherine’s world of anguish, OCD and domestic violence.
The two time-lines of Catherine’s life are subtly woven together pulling the reader through the ups and downs of both the then and now, giving a complete understanding of two very different Catherines and the devastation that domestic violence has, even long after it has stopped.
It covers some difficult topics – OCD, domestic violence and obsession – but it does so with the quiet finesse and well crafted plot of writer that understands her topics well. I loved this book and would happily recommend it to my female friends both as a brilliant psychological thriller and an interesting window into the world of OCD and obsession. I’m not sure it’s a book that men would get much out of being very much about the inside of a woman’s head
Into The Darkest Corner is available from Amazon both in paperback and on kindle.
About the author
Elizabeth Haynes is a police intelligence analyst. She started writing fiction in 2006 thanks to the annual challenge of National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) and the encouragement of the creative writing courses at West Dean College. She lives in a village near Maidstone, Kent, with her husband and son. Into the Darkest Corner is her first novel.
I met Elizabeth at the Festival of Writing last month in York and she was really friendly and approachable. You can visit Elizabeth’s Blog, 30 Days 50,000 Words, and find her on Twitter: @Elizjhaynes
Ask A Question And Win A Signed Copy
Elizabeth has not only agreed to answer any questions you may have about the book and the writing of it, but has also very kindly offered to send a signed copy of Into The Darkest Corner (or her next novel due out in around 12 months time if you already have a copy of this one) to a randomly selected person, anywhere in the world, that asks her a question.
Leave your questions for Elizabeth in the comments below and she will answer them in a separate post next week.
Buy Into The Darkest Corner from Amazon
I'm Heather, an ex expat, now back in blighty and living in Lancashire. Which is just like Lapland only less snowy...and stuff.
Oooh. Questions! Questions! So many – how do get an agent, how many rewrites… I could go on and on.
Mainly though, the writing intrigues me. Do you plan out the novel in fine detail and stick to the planned arc or do you allow your character to breathe and dictate the pace and direction? How much tight control do you maintain over the creative process?
One of the best books I’ve read this year actually. And if you ask the author a question in the comments you may win a signed copy.
A question? This early in the morning? My coffee hasn’t even kicked in yet! But thank you, Heather, for introducing another author – have just added this to my list of must reads.
Sooo many questions – wait, Steve stole them all!
I guess in a novel of this complexity with such a dramatic plot, my main question would be about your connection to your characters:
Did you ever find yourself sympathising with the antagonist – especially as you fleshed out his character and tried to understand his motivations?
Or
Did you find yourself connecting to ideas, subplots, or facets of your characters that you later had to change?
In terms of writing for the genre, did it first conceptualise as a genre piece or did you have to change your original ideas to make them fit?
That’s all for now.
You did say “questions,” Heather.
Question: Did you control the writing of this story, or did it control you?
It sounds fabulous, fingers crossed
Which came first when you started on The Darkest Corner – the plot idea, or the desire to write a novel? I’ve often wondered if people have a great idea for a story and so turn it into a novel, or whether they are creative/imaginative people who want the challenge of a novel.
Hi Elizabeth, congrats on the book
I’m also working on a novel with two timelines, and would like to ask if you have any general tips about how to transition between the two?
Cheers and good luck with your next venture!
Hi Elizabeth, can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the book. I have recommended it to loads of people.
What is the literal translation of the title of the German version?
Please keep us all informed on Facebook of the progress of your next book – can’t wait!
My questions are these:
- How many rejections did you get before you found an agent/got published?
- Did you have to modify your prose or plot in order to be published?
Thanks
I want to know how much your job helped with the plotting of this and the understand of the characters traits etc?
And how much research into OCD, obsession and domestic violence did you have to do? Did you write the book first and add the details later or do the research first?
And how much responsibility to get it right did you feel, given that these are very serious issues did you feel?
The book sounds very intriguing I shall add it to my Amazon basket.
My question is:
While writing how absorbed by the characters do you become, do you find yourself doing everyday chores and wonder how your character would be doing them? Or can you switch off completely from the novel whilst you’re not actually writing.
I don’t have a question, just thought the book sounded right up my street and have ordered the Kindle version (am building up a Kindle book collection for my month long holiday!). Look forward to reading it
[...] week I reviewed Into The Darkest Corner, a gripping psychological thriller by Elizabeth Haynes and Elizabeth kindly offered to both answer [...]
what was in the phone call?
I have just watched a book review programme on tv and they were all raving about your book and how absolutely gripping it is. I can’t wait to read it. It sounds very intriguing. I wondered if you got your inspiration from the work that you do?
Best book I have ever read, can’t wait for your next one. Brilliant
Did the idea for the book come from personal experience? Either your own or someone you knew?
friend of mine who is as avid a reader as I am told me to read your book as s. he is reading it in French. I suppose you love reading as well as writing.Who is your favorite author ? Has any writer influenced your writing ? I wish you the best of luck and hope this Elizabeth will be as succesful as others I won’t name !
Brigitte, a French reader