Cover Image: No Woods So Dark as These

No Woods So Dark as These

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I have read all of Silvis's books. This one was a decent read, but not as compelling as some others but it has a heck of an ending. You will be well served to read the previous book A LONG WAY DOWN to really understand some aspects of the plot of NO WOODS SO DARK AS THESE.

Was this review helpful?

These series has run its course for me. I LOVED the first book, and it earned 5 stars from me. Then book #2 slid to 4 stars--still very good. But book #3 was 2 stars (maybe 2-1/2), and now book #3 is also 2 stars (maybe really 1-1/2).

There's way too much boring and inauthentic-sounding philosophizing from Ryan. And at one point, Silvis uses him to thumb his nose at the reader. Ryan says, "If this were a novel, the reviewers would be saying 'too many characters, too many plots.'" Yep, as a reader, that was exactly what I was saying. And the answer of "Ignore the reviewers. Life is messy," just sounds like an excuse. Yep, I know this novel is kind of a slog. Deal with it.

My favorite part of the book was the addition of Hero, the dog. The rest of the novel was just too much of a slog through too many people's brains. I don't care about Khatri, and by the end of the book, I just thought, "Are you kidding me?" when Ryan <spoiler> is shot and apparently dies or at least begins hallucinating.</spoiler> I thought, "What the heck is going on here? What happened?"

And then I realized...I didn't really care. So that tells me the book is just maybe too messy for me. Or maybe the author needs to respect the reader a bit more. The novel is too full of loose ends, and I no longer care enough about the characters to find out what happens in the next book. I no longer trust Silvis to tell a complete and satisfying story, which makes me sad, because this series was so strong in the first couple of books.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book while I was reading it, but I fully can't remember what happened two days later. I felt the same way reading this as I do while watching a not so memorable episode of Law and Order: still enjoyed it even though it's not my favorite. Although it's fourth in a series I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first three. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes a crime procedural with a nice focus on the personal development of the detectives and their personal lives.

Was this review helpful?

It was OK, not great. Disappointed. Foreshadowing is alternated with sentimentality that contributes to a depressing experience.

Their last case has left Ryan DeMarco and Jayme Matson emotionally exhausted, but just when they hope to have a peaceful recovery period, more bodies drag them into a new case.

I loved the first book in this series, but succeeding books have failed to match that experience, and this one was a no go for me. Maybe because the protagonist in the first book was (by necessity) followed by DeMarco as the lead, I've not felt as engaged with the characters. Could have been cut by about 100 pages of foreshadowing and foreboding.

Blog review scheduled for July.

NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press
Mystery. Aug. 4, 2020. Print length: 448 pages.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. Character development was good. The plot was very interesting. Not a lot of typos.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book and I liked that you didn’t have to read the others in the series to understand this one. It was a great mystery. I enjoyed that I didn’t see the ending coming. It makes for an exciting read.

Was this review helpful?

Former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco's life has been spent in defiance―he's defied death, loneliness, and betrayal all while fighting the worst parts of humanity. He's earned a break, and following the devastation of their last case, DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme want nothing more than to live quietly in each other's company. To forget the horrors they've experienced and work on making each other whole again.

This is the first book I have read in the Ryan DeMarco Series of which this is the 4th This is something that I intend to revisit as it is a great read and I would like to find out some of the background behind this story. The main characters Ryan DeMarco and his partner Jayme, are both early retired police officers who are brought back to solve a gruesome multiple murder.
I have to admit that Ryan and Jayme are my new favorite crime partners and the most interesting since Dennis Lehanes Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro. Both leads are wounded from prior work experiences but their relationship is well molded and integral to the overall story line. Two people from different backgrounds working hard to keep things together through pressing times. . The supporting cast on the police force and involved in the crime itself are interesting and add depth to this well thought out plot.
What I also thoroughly enjoyed is Silvis writing style. It is gritty yet poignant with regard to how people interact with each other. Overall a fantastic story with great cast. Look forward to Randall Silvis’s future novels.

Was this review helpful?

This just wasn't for me. What a beautiful promise of a book - however, everything just felt gratuitous, from the language to the overt description. None of the characters were likeable, though they started off well, most became tedious and annoying. Just not my cup of tea.

Was this review helpful?

The pity party in the plot completely overshadowed the plot, and lead to a really dumb ending. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone unfortunately.

Was this review helpful?

I like this gut wrenching novel from beginning to end . It kept me on a knifes edge throughout with many explosive twists and turns.

Was this review helpful?

This is a mystery with several twists-written about the dark side of criminals and the not so criminals... and can’t seem to get past appalling language in some of the books I am reviewing. There were no truly likeable characters in the story, but some were, at times, intriguing-what would they do next? Murder and mayhem...loss of loved ones...despicable murderers and victims. When rI edit a mystery, I prefer sticking to the plot...this book was a mystery in genre, but also the long detailed descriptions and explanations were superfluous. I would not read this again.

Was this review helpful?

Thankyou to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Randall Silvia, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of No Woods So Dark As These in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
This is the first book by this author that I have read. It certainly won't be the last.
I thought the storyline was well thought out and written. The central characters draw you into their lives.
( Even though I haven't read the previous novels in the series, I don't feel like I had trouble in understanding the backstories).
Worth a read.

Was this review helpful?

Didn't see that ending coming. This book was more philosophical than the previous books in the series, which explains the ending. Not as suspenseful, but still a good read.

Was this review helpful?

Even though I have read books by Randall Silvis in the past I was unable to get into this book. and only read about 1/4 of the book at most ... Things seemed to go slowly and be dragged down into too much detail and also the overly graphic horrific murders at the beg. of the book caused me to want to stop reading especially since the burnt and crucified bodies were discovered by children.

Was this review helpful?

From a horrifying explosive beginning to a heartwrenching conclusion, NO WOODS SO DARK AS THESE is an engrossing and twisted mystery starring former Pennsylvania State Police detectives Ryan DeMarcos and Jayme Matson, now "unofficial consultants" and privately investigating. In the midst of all their own personal turmoil, both shared and individual, past and present, the partners are called in to assist in the State Police investigation of a multiple crime scene in isolated woods. Author Randall Silvis possesses a noted gift for lyrical imagery and for depth psychology. The villain fooled me, in that I was focused on a certain avenue of villainy. I was incorrect, so that was a pleasant surprise as I didn't "know all" in advance; and discovering unexpected turns was certainly true of the ending as well. I anticipate learning where the author might take this Series from this point forward.

Was this review helpful?

Former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco's life has been spent in defiance--he's defied death, loneliness, and betrayal all while fighting the worst parts of humanity. He's earned a break, and following the devastation of their last case, DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme want nothing more than to live quietly in each other's company. To forget the horrors they've experienced and work on making each other whole again.

But dreams of a peaceful life together are shattered when two bodies are discovered in a smoldering car in the woods, and another is found brutally mutilated nearby. Much as he'd like to leave the case to his former colleagues, dark forces are at play and DeMarco cannot escape the vortex of lies, betrayal, and desperation. He and Jayme are dragged back into the fray, where they must confront the shady dealings of a close-knit rural community.

This is the 4th book in the series, tho I think you can read it as a standalone. I don't know if I'm in a bit of a slump or this one is just a bit slow for me but I couldn't get all the way in to it. 2.5-3 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Very good continuation of the Ryan DeMarco series although one should read this series in order to fully appreciate this book. Like the depth given to Ryan in his struggles to become a better person. Plot well thought out weaving past open case with new case. The chapters were not very long which allowed the plot to keep flowing to become a page turner.

The ending of the book left you wanting more and sets up nicely for book five of this series.

Was this review helpful?