Here in the Dark

by Alexis Soloski

A dark and stylish novel of psychological suspense about a young theater critic drawn into a dangerous game that blurs the lines between reality and performance.

Vivian Parry likes the dark. A former actress, she now works as the junior theater critic at a major Manhattan magazine. Her nights are spent beyond the lights, in a reserved seat, giving herself over to the shows she loves. By day, she savages them, with words sharper than a knife.

Angling for a promotion, she reluctantly agrees to an interview, a conversation that reveals secrets she thought she had long since buried. Then her interviewer disappears and she learns―from his devastated fiancée―that she was the last person to have seen him alive. When the police refuse to investigate, Vivian does what she promised herself she would never do again: she plays a part. Assuming the role of amateur detective, she turns her critical gaze toward an unsanitary private eye, a sketchy internet startup, a threatening financier, fake blood, and one very real corpse. As she nears the final act, she finds that the boundaries between theater and the real world are more tenuous and more dangerous than even she could have believed. . .

Gripping, propulsive, and shot through with menace and dark glamor, Alexis Soloski’s Here in the Dark takes us behind the scenes of New York theater, lifting the curtain on the lies we tell ourselves and each other.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Adult

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 5, 2023

Reviews

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark noir with a theatre critic main character. It's the definition of acerbic and so deliciously dramatic. Its middling average rating be damned; this was fantastic.

This was one of my favorite fiction books of 2024!
Click here to hear more of my thoughts over on my Booktube channel, abookolive.

[Teju A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I definitely am not the intended reader for this, not for me one bit.

Something about a woman not knowing the difference btw reality and a play, and then it ends abruptly when she blackmails a guy...🙄🤨😒Yeah I know, I'm as lost as you are!

Solid 2 stars!!!!!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only is Here in the Dark an incredibly well-executed work of psychological noir fiction, it's also one of the best-narrated audiobooks I've ever listened to. I highly recommend the audio version of this novel, read by Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti. Benanti's skilled narration combined with the subject matter, which author and New York Times theater critic Alexis Soloski obviously knows intimately, made this such an engaging and rewarding reading experience for me.

Our girl Vivian is a bit of a mess. A former actress, she now works as a junior theater critic for a Manhattan magazine, spending her nights in a dark theater seat and her days eviscerating the shows she sees, one scathing word at a time. In between, she indulges in alcohol and pills and anonymous sex, taking every opportunity, no matter how extreme, to numb herself from the grief she still feels for her mother, even years after her death.

When a student asks to interview Vivian, she reluctantly agrees, thinking that it may help her obtain the promotion she's been angling for. But the interviewer dredges up things Vivian would rather not discuss, and shortly after their interview, he disappears. When the police refuse to investigate his disappearance, Vivian decides to conduct her own investigation, going undercover and playing a part for the first time in years. But nothing could prepare her -- or the reader -- for what will be revealed in the final act.

Here in the Dark is an intensely character-driven, slow-burning psychological thriller that captivated me from the very first page. Vivian is one of those complicated, self-destructive, broken female characters that show up a lot in the post-Gone Girl book world, but I assure you that nothing about Vivian feels derivative. Soloski delves deeply into Vivian's psyche, past, and motivations to create a complex, sympathetic character you can't help but root for, even though Vivian definitely doesn't want your sympathy or support. She doesn't want you to see her at all.

Vivian is also very funny, with a wry, sarcastic sense of humor, which adds much-needed levity to a plot with some extremely dark elements and scenes. I appreciated Soloski's willingness to engage with disturbing subject matter as she paints a raw, provocative portrait of how destructive unhealed wounds can be.

Here in the Dark is expertly-plotted and suspenseful, with a surprising and thoroughly satisfying conclusion. If you listen to the audio (which you should, if you are able), be sure not to skip the conversation between Benanti and Soloski at the end. It was a treat to listen to them discuss their lives, careers, and this book and its characters. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early listening opportunity.

[Sunny Lu · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the stupidest things I’ve ever read

[Sarah (berriesandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normal theater kids doing normal theater kid things that would put any sane person in a coma.

Good stuff.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author who is a prize-winning culture reporter and theater critic knows a thing or two about what they are choosing to write in their psychological thriller debut novel.

Readers are being introduced to Vivian, a Manhattan-based theater critic who isn’t quite the thoughtful reviewer. She is also mixing sex, booze and pills to quell her anxiety and grief over the loss of her mother.

As a long-term junior critic, she aspires to be a senior critic, and in the interim accepts an invitation from a grad student, David to be interviewed for his thesis. This invitation comes with an expectation to be on a panel which she hopes will help her secure a promotion from her employer.

But, once she meets David, she finds there is something off about him. And then, he disappears, and Irina his fiancé begs for Vivian to help find him. But Irina’s father, a supposed Russian mobster, is not happy about the upcoming nuptials, and suspects foul play.

So…have we been-here-before? What is really happening? What did David know about Vivian that caused her such discomfort? Did she do something to him? Did Irina’s mobster father disappear David? Will Vivian sober up and find herself?

Will readers enjoy this surveillance world, yet modern noir style read with flawed, unlikable characters?

What do you think?

3.5 stars

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook is dark and witty and I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s writing and the narration by Tony award winning Laura Benanti. Being a theater critic herself, Alexis Soloski wrote what she knew when creating her main character, actor turned critic Vivian Parry. Vivian finds herself in a sort of cat and mouse game in which she takes on the role of detective trying to figure out who is playing against her. I wouldn’t say it is full of shock and twists as you may crave from thrillers, however it is a slow burn and pleasantly surprising. This is Soloski’s debut novel and I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with!

The audiobook also contains an interview at the end between Soloski and Benanti, in which we learn more about each of their backgrounds. I found it as interesting as the book 😊

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I love how Laura Benanti handled ALL of the narration in this book! She seamlessly switches characters and I was never lost or confused about who was talking. The story itself blew me away! It was the best mystery/comedy/suspense I’ve read all year! I had no idea how everything would end up but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride! If you only have one more book to read this year, look no further! Perfection!

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t get into this. I love the theater scene in NYC and murder-mysteries on general, but this couldn’t captivate me, largely because the MC wasn’t someone I wanted to spend any amount of time with.

Thanks netgalley for my ARC ALC

DNF

[LaGaryce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Dani Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't not enjoy this book, but it wasn't a favorite. I never could connect to any of the characters. I did enjoy the twist at the end of the story and didn't totally see that coming.

[lauren ruiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley + the publishers for this ARC! This was unfortunately a miss for me — the entirety of this book felt incredibly glacial with little to no drive from its frankly intolerable protagonist.

Vivian Parry is a theatre critic struggling with alcoholism and self-sabotage. However, the latter two concerns don't actually contribute to her petulance as much as her pretentiousness does. Vivian is also crude to the people who care for her, from her boss to her close friends, and even crueler to those she freshly meets (a la strangers-turned-fuckbuddies). At her core, she comes off cruel, apathetic, and excruciating in a way that is neither satirical nor satisfying to read. Unfortunately, painting her in such an insufferable light made it difficult to care for her or the story's mystery in any capacity.

Plot-wise, I felt that this story could be likened to a forgotten loaf of bread left out overnight: cold, stale, and lost on usability. We are introduced to David Adler through his interview with Vivian, then he suddenly vanishes without a trace. Because we as readers only know David through the main character, who is equally disinterested in his disappearance until it becomes her problem, it's a high expectation that the audience would or should care about this suddenly absent character.

While there were other twists and turns throughout the story, they oftentimes came off as inauthentic / trying too hard. There was a portion of this plot where Vivian takes a more investigative approach to unearthing what happened with David by infiltrating his prior workplace, and it could have easily been in the likes of other stories written about unhinged women. However, even this portion (which I considered the most entertaining part of the story by comparison) fell flat on its face and seemed only to be lacking.

The ending felt a bit fruitless, especially after the long-winded journey to get there. Where a slow burn can often reap the greatest rewards in a novel, Here in the Dark sadly flails in its attempt to be climactic.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I love the cover and I love the author’s writing style. It really intrigued me from the very beginning.

Here In The Dark is a dark, psychological mystery that follows Vivian who is a theatre critic in New York City. The story gets interesting when a grad student asks to interview her and goes missing shortly after. Lots of mysterious things happen following his disappearance.

Vivian is very self-destructive, cynical, and rough around the edges. I thought she was really unlikable, though I also found myself rooting for her, so I think that really speaks to how well she was written. This story leaves you wondering until the very, very end. It’s a unique outcome and like nothing I’ve read before. I absolutely loved the ending and thought it was very satisfying! The rest of the story was just really slow and repetitive for me. This is a short book that I expected to fly through, but it really dragged on.

I think you’d like this if you like dark mysteries. You don’t have to be a theatre buff to enjoy it, though I think it would make you catch more references and appreciate it more. I read a physical copy, but sounds like maybe audio is the way to go for this one. May be triggered by substance use/abuse and mental health struggles.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up!!

This was a very dark, psychological book. The main character, Vivian, is unlikeable and makes terrible choices… but that makes her interesting.

While this covers some really dark topics, there is also a fair amount of humor to break it up! This never felt too heavy and I was never bored. I think some sections could use a little less description, but overall I was entertained.

I did not see where this was going and that made me like it more!! I was eager to keep listening as I got further in. The narrator was great and I liked how distinct the voices were for different characters.

Thank you to Macmillan for the audiobook!

[K.C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable. The main character was so numb that she lacked any reason for the audience to care about her. Since this story was told in the first person it was tough to get through. Definitely wouldn't recommend it this book to anyone.

[Ghoul Von Horror · Rating 1 out of 5]

TW: Language, drinking, smoking, death of parents, toxic friendships, misogyny, sexism, drug use, alcoholism, blood

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Vivian Parry likes the dark. A former actress, she now works as the junior theater critic at a major Manhattan magazine. Her nights are spent beyond the lights, in a reserved seat, giving herself over to the shows she loves. By day, she savages them, with words sharper than a knife.

Angling for a promotion, she reluctantly agrees to an interview, a conversation that reveals secrets she thought she had long since buried. Then her interviewer disappears and she learns―from his devastated fiancée―that she was the last person to have seen him alive. When the police refuse to investigate, Vivian does what she promised herself she would never do again: she plays a part. Assuming the role of amateur detective, she turns her critical gaze toward an unsanitary private eye, a sketchy internet startup, a threatening financier, fake blood, and one very real corpse. As she nears the final act, she finds that the boundaries between theater and the real world are more tenuous and more dangerous than even she could have believed. . .
Release Date: December 5th, 2023
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 256
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Writing was okay

What I Didn't Like:
1. More rich people
2. Vivian is so pretentious
3. Stereotype characters
4. Using death by suicide as fun girl language
5. Boring

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer I write my review as I read}}

Honestly I'm really just questioning why I'm reading this book. Within this book continues tropes I am over;
• Rich people complaining about complicated their lives are (they aren't)
• Actors (so full of themselves)

Within the first few pages of this book I should have known what I was getting myself into when she mentions that she didn't even need the inheritance she got from her grandmother because she was so well off.

Can the police deny a missing person report just because you aren't related? That seems like an odd and dangerous choice. I bet that happens a lot.

What's the obsession with Arena and talking about sweets? That was annoying.

Nooooooo screw that PI. Over here demanding she comes down to him. I'd tell him no. I'd take offense that he said he wants to see if you're lying face to face. Speaking of the PI he is like every character that's been a PI.

There's a lot of references to death by suicide but the author chooses to make it a fun joke that is used by the characters and just dropped into conversations over trivial things. I found those parts weak of the author and in poor taste.

Welders working without shirts.... Really? How would that even be possible? You'd burn your skin so much.

I skimmed to the ending. David is a scorned actor that Vivian wrote a bad review about his acting. He's banded with other actors she's wrote reviews about to make one big play.

Final Thoughts:
At the end of the day I dnfed this book 100 pages into it. I found the characters flat and lifeless. Vivian drove me up the wall with her personality.

I didn't understand the point of a promotion and Vivian having to give an interview. What do those things have to do with each other?

This book felt no different than all those other books that make women drunk and drugged up that they never know what's going on. They don't know what's real. They always pass out at random places. The whole tone of this book was not for me.

IG | Blog


Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Flatiron for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vivian Parry ist 32, wohnt in New York und arbeitet als Theaterkritikerin. Sie wandelt von Aufführung zu Aufführung, denn nur wenn die Lichter ausgehen und ein Theaterstück beginnt, kann sie sich entspannen - den Rest des Tages übersteht sie nur mit Tabletten und Alkohol. In der Theaterszene ist sie berüchtigt für ihre gnadenlosen Kritiken. Als eines Tages der Student David Adler auf sie zukommt und um ein Interview bittet, willigt sie freudlos ein. Ihr Interesse wird erst geweckt, als David Adler kurz nach dem Interview spurlos verschwindet. Da die Polizei nichts unternimmt, stellt sie selbst Nachforschungen an - und gerät immer tiefer in einen undurchsichtigen, gefährlichen Strudel.

Der Klappentext von "Hier im Dunkeln", dem Debütroman von Alexis Soloski, hat mich sehr neugierig gemacht: Ein Spannungsroman mit Setting in der Theaterszene New Yorks, ein mysteriöser Vermisstenfall und eine junge, versnobte Protagonistin - das klingt nach einer fesselnden und ungewöhnlichen Mischung! Leider hat das Buch mir dann aber aus verschiedenen Gründen nicht so zugesagt wie erwartet. Zum Einen braucht die Geschichte wirklich sehr Lange, um in Fahrt zu kommen, allein das Interview zwischen David und Vivian findet erst nach rund 50 Seiten im Buch statt, bis zum Vermisstenfall dauert es noch etwas länger. Auch der Mittelteil des Buches zieht sich eher, einen hohen Spannungsbogen habe ich vergeblich gesucht. Zum Anderen fand ich die im Klappentext erwähnte "Selbstmedikation" Vivians wirklich krass - oft sind Tabletten und Alkohol die einzigen Dinge, die sie zu sich nimmt und ihr selbstzerstörerisches Verhalten nimmt über die Seiten immer weiter zu. Das war mir persönlich einfach zu viel. Pluspunkte hat "Hier im Dunkeln" jedoch durch das offensichtlich vorliegende Insider-Wissen zur Theaterszene der Autorin (sie ist selbst Theaterkritikerin der NEW YORK TIMES) und die ziemlich raffinierte Auflösung am Ende des Buchs gesammelt - für ein wirklich gutes Leseerlebnis hat das aber nicht ausgereicht. Von mir gibt es daher eher keine Leseempfehlung.

Übersetzt von Christian Lux.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me strong noir vibes and I loved the main character. She’s a cool, detached, brutal theater critic with a penchant for self-medicating. She doesn’t like to feel too much so she does everything she can to numb her feelings. Of course, when she gets involved in the disappearance of a young man that all starts to change. She starts looking into the case and comes across a unique cast of characters such as the old school PI, a shady Russian investor, and a detective with dark desires.

I had an inkling of what the reveal would be and while I wasn’t surprised, I did like how it unfolded. It was very on theme. However, I did get tired with how often our narrator had to rely on substances and I wish she treated those who cared for her better. Overall though, this is a unique noir thriller complete with a morally ambiguous anti-hero, changing identities, paranoia, and a twisty mystery.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm wondering why this isn't making a bigger splash in book world. Here in the Dark is a story about a theatre critic and one that I would drop into the "femcel lit" category. To me, femcel lit requires a tortured female lead, one who self destructs, is both overly emotional and emotionless. Sometimes there is substance abuse, and always a penchant for obsession. A femcel often uses sex to fill a void where the soul should be, has a biting inner and outer vocabulary, and deals with a mysterious past. Here in the Dark has all of this, and that's why I love it. I think it helps to have some sort of interest or appreciation for the arts for this, but it's not necessary. There's a lot of talk about theatre, the need to always perform, even in your everyday life. I loved the dialogue in this, as well as the inner monologues of the narrator. I give it four stars because I loved the dreary New York Winter setting (Christmas), as well as the actual theaters themselves, and would've liked to have seen that explored more. I love when authors craft the setting to be almost another character, and I wish Soloski went there. I will definitely read whatever she writes next.

Some lines I loved:

"Looking into that face, so close to my own, I realize something more: David Adler has been acting this whole time. He's pretending to be a person, too. And he's good at it, better than me."

"I raise my wet eyes to hers. And then the moment comes, the one I hope for, when I've gone too far into the role that I can trust the words and the whirlwind to their work. I am in it and without it. Observing myself from above as a few tears come. The pleasure is borderline erotic, almost unbearable."

"I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror hung on the closet door - hair tumbled, half-naked, clutching a knife. I look dangerous.
Maybe I am.
Because I remember what Chekhov said. That if you introduce a weapon in an early act, you'll have to use it in the final one."

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An audiobook wonder! Narrated by Laura Benanti in a beautiful, engaging way! She has the ability to give voice to each character in a next level way - even with different accents. This story is for those who love mysteries, thrillers, and theater. I found myself connecting to several of the characters in many different ways. I wanted to solve the mystery but appreciate the performance piece all at the same time. In parts, the story does get very dark, but redemption is right around the corner.

Another thing to note and appreciate is the author interview at the end of the audiobook with the narrator. They both provide so much background to the theater review and acting aspect of the story. Again, truly an audiobook gem!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Alexis Soloski for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. "Here in the Dark" was published December 5, 2023!

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here in the Dark

An Ok book with a great ending. I couldn't engage with the self-destructive character, Vivian, and found her off-putting. The book just sort of unfolded around me until the ending which I never expected.

3 stars but no more

Happy Reading!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a crazy book. Sadly, I didn't like it as much as I would have liked. It was pretty unique but just didn't mesh well with me.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivian Perry is a troubled twenty something theater critic living in the hustle of Manhattan. Following the death of her mother, Vivian finds that the only time her thoughts slow down, are when she is in the audience of a theater and the lights go down. Diving into her role as a critic, Vivian works towards the next step in her career. In doing so, Vivian takes on an interview with a doctorate student, and unfortunately the interview does not seem to go quite as planned. Not thinking much of the interview, Vivian is startled to realize that she was the last person to see the interviewer. Somehow, Vivian then finds her self entangled in the disappearance of the man, and finds herself pursuing the truth of the disappearance.

I will admit the ending twist got me, and although I suspected the ending I was still surprised when the truth finally made itself known. The twist is most likely why I rate this book/story so highly, however, the production of the book was wonderful, and the narrator did a wonderful job bringing the story to life in an entertaining but not over the top way. Additionally, I enjoyed the interview at the end of the audio version between the author and the narrator. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who likes a good psychological thriller, or mystery.

[Just Passing Through _x · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here in the Dark

Author: Author: Prize-winning New York Times theater critic, Alexis Soloski
Narrator: Tony Award-winning actor, Laura Benanti
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release: December 5, 2023

My Rating: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

If you love audio books and/or theater, this book is easily captivating. The last hour is so satisfying and the narration is beyond perfect!

Dark glamour in the Manhattan theater district. Vivian is a damaged and relatable theater critic. After a doctoral student she interviews goes missing, and the police seem unconcerned, she begins her own investigation.

A mystery and psychological thriller, read it! A bonus for the audio version, there’s a fabulous interview at the book between the author and the narrator.

#book #bookstagram #books #bookreviewer#fiction #newrelease #darkglamour #captivating #mystery #thriller #psychologicalthriller

[EKoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Alexis Soloski has a way with words. Such a well written book. This story was dark and unique and I will remember this book among the many I will read this year. The main character is wonderfully complicated with a dark, dry sense of humor. I actually laughed out loud on several occasions. Laura Benanti is equally as talented and read this book like she actually is the main character. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

[Chloe Combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. loved. this. book. I have never read anything like it. The writing was beautiful and funny and fast-paced. I can’t believe this is a debut novel!! (Especially from a real NYT journalist/theater critic like the book is based on; so cool)

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivian Parry is very nearly happy when she is sitting in a darkened theater waiting to lose herself in a new stage production. A junior theater critic and a former actress, Vivian never feels like she has to pretend when she's sitting in the audience. There are no expectations for her to put on the mask she tries to wear in daylight when she has to seem like a normal adult concern with things like eating enough, drinking less, and not angling for more prescriptions than she strictly needs during her quarterly performance with her mandated therapist.

Vivian is used to feeling untethered from her own life where little grounds her beyond chasing a promotion at the magazine and time spent with her only friend, Justine, the one person who has seen behind Vivian's carefully curated mask. If Vivian is being honest with herself, there isn't much else to her life. But work doesn't leave much time for that kind of honesty. Vivian makes sure of it.

After reluctantly agreeing to an interview with a grad student, Vivian's world is upended when the interviewer disappears and Vivian is the last person to have seen him alive. Drawn into the mystery and thrill of feeling something outside of a theater, Vivian decides to look into the disappearance when it's clear the police won't. Following the interviewer's trail leads to threatening notes, a sketchy online business, and one very real corpse as well as the one thing Vivian has denied herself for years: the chance to play a part.

The closer Vivian comes to the truth behind the disappearance, the more she is forced to confront the dark truths in her own life--and a level of stagecraft even the most seasoned critic couldn't imagine in Here in the Dark (2023) by Alexis Soloski.

Here in the Dark is Soloski's debut novel. Though fictional, the story draws on her own experience as a theater critic for the New York Times to set the stage. Be sure to check out the audiobook narrated by Laura Benanti for an excellent listen and a bonus interview between Benanti and Soloski to hear more about the book's inspiration, her process, and more. Vivian and most main characters are cued as white.

Vivian's first person narration is brittle and razor sharp as she brings a level of clarity to her surroundings and the people in her life that she is reluctant to turn on her own choices in the wake of her mother's sudden death during her college years. With red herrings, false starts, and more than a few questionable choices on Vivian's part Here in the Dark is a solid thriller that also asks where a protagonist can go once they've seen behind the curtain and found the theater empty.

Sleek prose evokes the very specific atmosphere of New York's theater scene while Vivian's substance abuse and knack for self-sabotage undercut her investigative efforts. A classic final act twist will satisfy fans of the genre while bringing the narrative, and Vivian herself, closer to equilibrium in this dangerously entertaining thriller.

Possible Pairings: Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney, Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins, All the Broken People by Leah Konen, The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration through Libro.fm's ALC program*

[Amelia Wall Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong writing. Reads like watching a film noir. The drug/alcohol/sex scenes are actually so hard to read given the amount of self-damage the main character is doing. I like the overall plot line though- beware those who advertise their empathy for others because they can be the harshest responders to differences of opinion- see cancel culture 2020s….

[Allison Speakmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivian Parry, a former actress turned theater critic crave lost herself once. It’s been years since the loss of her mother caused Vivian to lose control of her identify and she hasn’t stopped numbing herself since. When she isn’t leaving scathing theater reviews, she’s finding ways to make herself disappear from the world. When a local college student requests to interview Vivian, she agrees hoping to help her case for a promotion. But the disappearance of the student shortly after the interview, causes Vivian to launch her own investigation into his life and could lead her down a dangerous path.

I have a love hate relationship with unreliable narrators. I don’t HAVE to like a narrator to feel connected to them or enjoy the story, but I need some sort of redeeming quality to hold my attention. For Vivian she’s funny. She’s snarky and though she tends to self-sabotage, I couldn’t help but be drawn into her chaos.

I never fully bought into the story. On one hand, it’s different and Soloski writes from her own experiences as a theater critic. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure where our plot was going for most of the story and found the pacing to be somewhat slow. I honestly had a hard time buying that Vivian would take such an interest in a random student when she doesn’t seem to care much about anyone, even those closest to her, so the plot felt a bit farfetched. Add in a super out there / unrealistic ending and well, this one just didn’t do it for me.

I can certainly appreciate what Soloski was attempting, but as someone who is over thrillers of women self-medicating and being gaslighted, it fell flat for me. I did primarily listen to the audio and while I did really enjoy Laura Benanti’s narration, the pacing was too slow for the reward.

If you are a theater fan, you’ll definitely enjoy this thriller, but it’s a 2.5 rounded up to 3 star read for me.

Here in the Dark comes out December 5, 2023. Huge thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copies in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

[Dmitry · Rating 4 out of 5]

30-летняя Вивиан работает театральной критикессой в Нью-Йоркском журнале, активно ходит по бродвейским постановкам и пишет преимущественно ядовитые разгромные рецензии. Она много пьет, любит случайный необязательный секс, а острым языком и нахальством отрывается за неудавшуюся карьеру актрисы. Однажды некий аспирант для научной работы берет у нее интервью, а потом безвестно пропадает. Вивиан донимает его русская невеста Ирина, дочь главаря банды, а потом в парке бухая Вивиан находит труп чувака, как-то связанного с аспирантом. Чтобы не стать главной подозреваемой, она берется за собственное расследование.

Последней прослушанной в уходящем году книжкой стал дебютной роман Алексис Солоски, культурной обозревательницы в The New York Times. В профиле на сайте написано, что «ее интересуют комедии, женские истории, исследования сексуальности и гендера». Всего этого в романе в достатке, умеренном настолько, чтобы не отвлекать от расследования — роман всё же жанровый, хотя и с моралью. Книжка не держится целиком на героине — здесь хватает лихих поворотов, круто выписанных сцен и неплохой развязки — но цепляет обаянием токсичной разбитной Вивиан. Театр — ее жизнь, им она дышит, хотя не ценит современных постановок и отрывается, когда разносит их в пух и прах. Видит цель — идет к ней: то 14 тысяч знаков написать за выходные, то под видом секретарши инфильтрироваться в подозрительный офис, охмурить босса и разнюхать, что он скрывает. В общем, за эскападами и словесными выкрутасами героини просто кайфово следить — Алексис Солоски умеет писать и знает свой матерьял. В разговоре с чтицей в конце аудиокниги (озвучена, кстати, великолепно) Алексис признается, что ее бэкграунд практически такой же, как у Вивиан, и ей хотелось пофантазировать, как бы она, критикесса Нью-Йорк Таймс, поступала в описанных ситуациях, если бы храбрости и отбитости у нее было гораздо больше. Вышло весело.