Darkness, My Old Friend

Michael Holt's mother disappeared when he was a child, and he has always known that she would never have abandoned him willingly. He returns as an adult to his hometown of The Hollows, hiring a private detective and a local psychic to uncover the truth, however unpleasant it might prove to be. Jones Cooper, an ex-cop struggling with the events of his past, is soon drawn into the disturbing investigation, in Unger's latest offering. The lives of the residents in this small town (also the setting in ) have been intertwined for years, even generations, and no one is as ordinary or uncomplicated as they seem. Effective use of psychology (more subtle than that found in the author's previous novels) draws readers into the lives of the characters, in particular the teenaged Willow Graves, who acts out her pain and confusion with chronic lying, angry outbursts, and sneaking out at nighttime. Excellent characterization makes this one of Unger's best thrillers yet. [See Prepub Alert, 2/7/11.]—Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs

Michael Holt's mother disappeared when he was a child, and he has always known that she would never have abandoned him willingly. He returns as an adult to his hometown of The Hollows, hiring a private detective and a local psychic to uncover the truth, however unpleasant it might prove to be. Jones Cooper, an ex-cop struggling with the events of his past, is soon drawn into the disturbing investigation, in Unger's latest offering. The lives of the residents in this small town (also the setting in Fragile) have been intertwined for years, even generations, and no one is as ordinary or uncomplicated as they seem. Effective use of psychology (more subtle than that found in the author's previous novels) draws readers into the lives of the characters, in particular the teenaged Willow Graves, who acts out her pain and confusion with chronic lying, angry outbursts, and sneaking out at nighttime.