bookworm #37

Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

I was recommended this on twitter several months ago and popped it on my ever-expanding 'to read' list. Since then I've seen several people mention it, and for good reason. This book is excellent!

Into The Darkest Corner is the first novel written by Haynes, a police intelligence analyst. It tells the story of Catherine and like so many books now is written in alternate chapters; one present, one past. Although I am starting to tire of this format (it seems to be the case for nearly everything I read at the moment!) it was a way of telling us about why Catherine behaves in the way she does. She has OCD and her many compulsions include checking the safety of her flat meticulously. Checking the front door, the lock and handle, windows, curtains - leaving everything just so, so she'd be able to tell if he'd be in her home. 'He' is Lee, her ex-partner who we learn from the blurb on the back was erratic and controlling. As you read you learn more and more about Catherine's compulsions, and in turn why she has them. 

I took this book to Devon with me last week and sped through it in just a few days. I found it completely gripping - more than a little creepy in places and scarily 'real'. I read somewhere the scary thing about this book is you can just see it happening, it really could happen. And that's so true. It does happen, I'm sure to many women (and men). Some parts of the book turned my stomach and many left me completely dumb-struck. 

Into The Darkest Corner has confirmed to me that I love a mystery/crime/thriller novel. This was a total page-turner and I found myself going to bed early just so I could read, or tucked up on the arm chair reading instead of watching telly. Bravo!