Book Review: The Dark Within Them

Mrs P

March 31

A marriage sealed by their crimes...

Isabelle Kenyon ~ The Dark Within Them

Synopsis

A tight-knot Mormon community.

Faith-healer Amber is hopeful about Lehi, the safe Mormon town to which she, her new husband and two kids have just moved.

Bodies buried in the garden.

After the sudden death of her daughter, Amber discovers the community will do anything to keep its secrets.

One family divided.

When nothing feels certain anymore, will Amber take a leap of faith, for love?

Review

Although not religious myself, I find the subject fascinating, especially in fiction when a character's unshaken belief can cause them to question their own better judgment.

The concept for The Dark Within Them is excellent: dark and intriguing, with a hint of foreboding.

However, it doesn't quite deliver. At around 250 pages, the plot does not have sufficient time to unfold; nor do we get a true sense of the characters. Gilly is dead before we get a chance to understand her and more time to get to see the children's side of the story - and their relationship with their mother - would have been helpful to engage more with the story.

There are also a few instances where characters drink coffee or alcohol, despite this being forbidden by their religion; it is not clear if they are breaking the rules or if it is an oversight. In fact there is very little time spent understanding the Mormon religion, which would also help to locate the reader deep within this community.

Chad is perhaps the clearest character, but there is no surprise in how his relationship with Amber progresses. Too much is given away too quickly in both the early chapters and the synopsis. Brett's role feels incomplete and a few scenes between him and Amber earlier on, as well as the end would have shown the depth of her belief and why she made her decisions.

It is a good debut and as dark as it promises, but there is not quite enough development of plot or character to fulfil expectations.

Rating: 3 out of 5.