Darkest Night is the latest in a series by Jenny O'Brien in which one of our characters, Christine, wakes up to find the dead body of her friend sleeping right beside her. Very creepy, and what. a way to begin an old fashioned whodunit!

The Darkest Night is without a doubt a classic murder mystery, and would be a great series to follow along if you're interested in more modern takes! The set up was original, and I enjoyed the ending, and the only part where it faltered was the middle.

I didn't feel like the mystery was gaining as much traction as I would've hoped, and I found the chapters told in different perspectives very confusing. Most of them were obviously written in the point of view of our detective, and we only had a few written in the suspect's POV. This felt a little bit random to me and just an easier way for the author to tell a story the detective might not have found out. I would've just gone all of the chapters told in the detective's point of view, because I found the other ones taking me out of the story I was already immersed in.

If you're looking for a whodunit that doesn't have too much complexity but aren't looking for something too cozy, Darkest Night is the perfect in-between.

Having read and enjoyed the first book in the Gabriella Darin series ( Silent Cry), I am really looking forward to this novel.

Darkest Night opens with an intriguing situation; a key protagonist wakes up after a drunken night, not next to a one-night-stand, but next to a body. Not that of the bloke she expected.

This is how we are introduced to Christine. As the story unravels, she becomes one of many well-crafted characters who populate this book.

Add to this Gabriella Darin and her police team and this soon develops into an enjoyable police procedural story.

Within the novel, reference is made to red herrings. Without any risk of spoiling the story, I can confirm that there are shoals of red herrings before the identity of the murderer is discovered.

I really liked the pace and style of writing in this book. The ending certainly leaves the door open for further cases to be explored by DS Gaby Darin and her team. I for one will be looking forward to future books in this series.

Once again I give my thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Gabrielle Darrin #2

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Gabby Darrin has a puzzle on her hands, a puzzle that defies explanation. Christine de Bertrand certainly got more than she was expecting from the casual hook-up after celebrating the anniversary of her divorce. She has no one on her side apart from her ex-husband. She can't explain why there is a dead body in her bed. The body is a woman and Christine is positive she went to bed with a man.

I haven't read the first book in this series but it does read well as a standalone. DC Gabby Darrin is a feisty character. She's also flawed, she drinks too much and has terrible hangovers but she still gets the job done. The story is told from multiple points of view. It's filled with suspense, mystery and lots of action. The pace is steady and you'll be kept guessing throughout.

I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author Jenny O'Brien for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book two in the Gabriella Darin series but can be read as a stand alone. Starts off at a cracking pace and is filled with suspense and plenty twists. Relatable characters and an interesting plot makes this a very good thriller. A good murder mystery with plenty action. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Christine De Bertrand wakes up to her worst nightmare: rather than the man she went to bed with, lying beside her is her housemate, Nikki – dead. With no memory of the night before, Christine can’t explain what happened, and the police are baffled.
For DC Gaby Darin, newly arrived in Swansea from Llandudno after her last case ended in tragedy, it’s a mystery she’s determined to solve. When another woman goes missing, Gaby faces a race against time to uncover the link between the two victims and find the man who vanished from Christine’s bedroom. But as Gaby gets close, the killer gets closer – and soon one of Gaby’s own team is in unimaginable danger.
This is the second book in the series , it could easily be read on its own but I must admit after being granted a copy by NetGalley I bought the first book so that I could read them in order & I’m glad I did as by the time I read this book I felt that I knew Gaby. A well written page turner that had me gripped from the started & with the twists & turns along the way I was engrossed all the way through. A fast paced story & strong characters all added to my enjoyment. I hope the are plenty of more books to come
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

If you're looking for a murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, then this is the book for you.

I loved that this isn't a typical murder mystery and the plot just seemed to get thicker and thicker and the story went on. The plot was well paced and cleverly thought out to keep the mystery alive and the book exciting. Seeing all the pieces of the puzzle slowly slot together was so enjoyable and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. It's written in multiple viewpoints and in a logical sequence. I loved seeing the different perspectives and it truly made me wonder whether or not the narrators were reliable.

One of the main things I liked about the book was that the characters felt so relatable, none more so than the main protagonist Gaby. I've not read the first book in the series to know her back story, but she came across as being anxious about her position in the police force and doubting herself more than she needed to. She's not expecting to get the promotion she has and to be working on such a big case, though initially it seems like a simple case. Despite that, she's one of the brightest on the force and truly is a force to be reckoned with.

It was refreshing to read a book so jam-packed with suspense, action and mystery. You don't need to have read the first book in the series to appreciate and fully enjoy this gripping book as it easily works as a standalone novel.

A thoroughly enjoyable book from start to finish.

Having divorced her husband Christine De Bertrand is trying to move on with her life. She has a new place to live, a job she loves and it's her birthday. She also has a weird flatmate, Nikki, but is building up the courage to ask her to leave. After celebrating with her friend, Christine is shocked to wake up muzzy headed and not remembering much about the night before. She is absolutely sure, however, well, sort of, that she went to bed with a man and not Nikki who now lies dead beside her!

Called in to investigate DC Gabriella Darin is working in her third Welsh police department in too short a time period and knows she has no chances left. This time though her team are just what she needs, capable, industrious and they have her back. The pathologist is a different matter but she knows she can't have everything! Best friend Amy even transferred with her so this case should be a piece of cake, right?

While I enjoyed the first Gabriella Darin book the end was a bit of a disappointment this time there are no worries about anything like that, Jenny O'Brien has leapt from 3 to 5 stars in one book and this is so good. Gabs was a strong character in book one but she is so much more here. Her private life is realistically drawn, her partner DC Owen Bates compliments her really well and who can't love a DCI called Sherlock?

I really hope the third book continues where the second leaves off, if so this is sure to be a series full of promise written by an author with an eye for detail and an ability to find original plotlines in a crowded genre. Set in an area I know well only increases its appeal for me but I would have loved it wherever it took place.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it highly. You don't need to have read book one but it does detail DC Darin's past more extensively and is definitely worth a read.

This was a very compelling story. It had so many twists and turns and and I loved seeing the mystery unravel. I found it to be more of a realistic police procedural which was refreshing.

I've been looking forward to reading Darkest Night ever since completing Silent Cry; whilst each is a stand-alone read this is shaping up to be a cracking series!

DC Gaby Darin is now attached to the force in Swansea and her first case there is very puzzling indeed; Christine De Bertrand went to bed with a man she can barely remember the next morning - but woke up next to her flatmate. And as if that wasn't strange enough, Nikki is lying in a pool of her own blood. And so the investigation begins, only to be made more complicated by the disappearance of a second woman. What is going on in the south of Wales - and can Gaby and her team get on top of it all?

What a humdinger of a read! So much going on, so many possibilities and who to believe or discount? I freely admit to a fondness for Gaby and I find myself rooting for her both personally and professionally. Gaby aside, this is a complex and engrossing thriller which had my brain working overtime. I read this one in record time - I literally could not put it down and certainly couldn't go to sleep until I knew how it all worked out. Jenny O'Brien writes in an easy flowing manner but produces a complex crime scenario which is never easily solved. I loved this novel - even though I was yawning the morning after - and look forward to reading more of this series. A stunning crime thriller, well worth all five sparkling stars and the highest recommendation.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy of Darkest Night, the second novel to feature DC Gaby Darin of Police Wales.

Gaby has moved to Llandudno and is settling in as she is asked to head a murder investigation which initially looks open and shut. Christine de Bertrand wakes up after a heavy night out she can’t remember to find her flatmate, Nikki, stabbed to death in bed beside her. Christine vaguely remembers a man but with no proof she soon becomes the prime suspect. Then another woman goes missing.

I enjoyed Darkest Night which has an unusual plot premise and a likeable protagonist. I haven’t read the first novel in the series, Silent Cry, so I wasn’t sure what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. The plotting is clever with, not so much twists as unexpected turns. It moves forward constantly with a series of small developments that build to the big picture. I like this kind of novel which holds the interest with logical, step by step investigation as it always makes me want more. I wasn’t quite as keen on the format which I found slightly distracting. It is told from various points of view and that bit works fairly well but there are various flashbacks to past events, often told from Nikki’s point of view. I can’t say they added much to the narrative for me.

I like Gabby Darin. She’s smart and capable but not quite able to recognise this in herself. This lack of confidence doesn’t stop her doing her job but it does lead to moments of self doubt. In short she’s a very human, relatable character. There is much reference to past events in her life in this novel so it would have been better for me as a reader if I’d read Silent Cry first to give me a better understanding of what drives her now.

Darkest Night is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I hadn't read the first book in the Gaby Darin series but that in no way hampered my understanding of Jenny O'Brien's latest instalment, Darkest Night. The opening grabs you straight away with a hook that's puzzling to say the least, What should be a cut and dry case transpires to be something more when Detective Darin gets involved. She's a great heroine, flawed yet driven in her field and no stone is left unturned. The story is told in multiple POV and I really loved this extra dimension that added to the pace.

There is some wonderful camaraderie between characters and there's a highly satisfying ending. I raced through this book - it kept me on the edge of my seat trying to work out what the heck had happened.

I haven't read the first book in the series, but found that didn't cause any problems reading this book. Some events are alluded to, but with enough information that you can understand what happened. 

I like the feisty protagonist, DC Gaby Darin. She's flawed, she drinks and suffers from a hangover the next day, and she has barriers that very few people can break through. But she's a dedicated detective who gets involved in her cases, determined to look beyond the obvious and discover what really happened.

There's great camaraderie between the characters, all of whom are well developed and relatable, and I loved the friction between Gaby and Rusty, the pathologist. It will be interesting to see how the series develops. A great read.

#DarkestNight #NetGalley
An edge of your seat suspense thriller.
A DEAD WOMAN. AN IMPOSSIBLE CRIME.
Christine De Bertrand wakes up to her worst nightmare: rather than the man she went to bed with, lying beside her is her housemate, Nikki – dead. With no memory of the night before, Christine can’t explain what happened, and the police are baffled.
For DC Gaby Darin, newly arrived from Swansea after her last case ended in tragedy, it’s a mystery she’s determined to solve. When another woman goes missing, Gaby faces a race against time to uncover the link between the two victims and find the man who vanished from Christine’s bedroom. But as Gaby gets close, the killer gets closer – and soon one of Gaby’s own team is in unimaginable danger
I loved the detective's character.
Narration of the story is good.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me an advance copy.

Darkest Night, although number 2 in the DC Gaby Darin series, can easily be read as a standalone. There are a few references to characters and events in the previous book, none of which impact on the telling of this compelling thriller.

I very much enjoyed Darkest Night, and was hooked from the opening chapters.

The story is told from the points of view of several of the main characters, giving insight into their various thought processes. It flows nicely, and casts suspicion on several parties before revealing the true facts at the end. I thought I'd got it sussed. I had the killer in my sights early on, but was still taken aback by the revealed events of the night that began this story.

Darkest Night is an engrossing, fast-paced read that I think would lend itself very nicely to being turned into a feature-length film.

Christine De Bertrand wakes up to her worst nightmare: rather than the man she went to bed with, lying beside her is her housemate, Nikki – dead. With no memory of the night before, Christine can’t explain what happened, and the police are baffled.

For DC Gaby Darinit’s a mystery she’s determined to solve. When another woman goes missing, Gaby faces a race against time to uncover the link between the two victims and find the man who vanished from Christine’s bedroom. But as Gaby gets close, the killer gets closer – and soon one of Gaby’s own team is in unimaginable danger.

This was such an amazing book. I haven't read the first book featuring DC Gaby but I will definitely try to go back and read it because I absolutely loved this one.

It kept me hooked on right till the end. The story is narrated by multiple characters. but at no point does it create any sort of confusion. It has enough suspense and twists to keep you engaged till the end. It was such a page turner and I couldn't guess the culprit till the end!

Highly recommended! I’m eagerly anticipating the next book.

Thank You to NetGalley and HQ Digital for this ARC!!

The Darkest Night by Jenny O'Brien is the second book featuring detective Gaby Darin. I missed her first, but will go back to read and catch up on Gaby's books. I loved Darkest Night - a thriller, who-dun-it from the first page.

Christine de Bertrand goes out drinking, comes home with a man and wakes up the next morning with her roommate stabbed to death in her bed. Looks simple - she killed her roommate, but Gaby and her team will soon learn that nothing is simple in this case.

Another woman goes missing, she could be Christine's sister - who would want to harm a woman who looks like a murder suspect? Is it Christine's ex or someone else? When a member of Gaby's team is in direct danger from a killer, she has to act fast to save her friend before there is another dead woman.

Such a good book! Told from multiple points of view, readers are treated to the innermost thoughts of the main characters. Really enjoyed this thrill ride of a book.

Darkest Night starts with Christine waking to find a dead woman in her bed when she went to bed with a tall dark stranger she brought home from a bar. He is gone and she doesn't remember anything but bits and pieces. Nothing of murdering a woman in her own bed!
The story is narrated by multiple characters. Christine, her ex-husband Paul, DC Gaby Darin her partner Owen Bates, Nikki the roommate of Christines, Amy a fellow detective and Marie who worked for Gaby. They all tell the story from their perspective. The story also goes back and forth in time without getting confusing and flows smoothly casting guilt on more than one person. The answers are not revealed until the end. The story has it all murder, mystery and simmering relationships.
Thank you NetGalley, Jenny O'Brien and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this ARC. I definitely recommend this book.

Brilliant start to a great series can’t wait for the next instalment as this character is shaping up to definitely wet the appetite of any reader will be looking for more books on the future by this intriguing author.

Detective Gaby Darin has another case, a woman wakes up next to the body of a dead woman. Who killed her and why. This is a thriller that will leave you guessing on who did the crime until near the end. The twists and turns will leave you reeling and unable to put the book down. Jenny O'Brien is an amazingly talented writer that never disappoints. Every book she has written is fabulous. You do not need to read Silent Cry first but it will give you more insight into Gaby and is also another amazing thriller. I would highly recommend Darkest Night to anyone who likes to read thrillers that keep you guessing .

This is the second book in this series and has previously been published as ‘Stabbed in Wales ‘. I read the first one as well and I think it’s a great idea to relaunch this series and hope that the next books will follow as well.
After the dramatic events in Swansea, Gaby has been reposted at Llandudno in North Wales. She seems to fit in and even gets promoted. Her first case as DS looks like an open and shut case, but the suspect is adamant that she didn’t kill the victim. Not everything fits in this case.
When Christine takes a stranger back home after her birthday bash, she expects to wake up to a hangover. But instead of the stranger, she finds the naked dead body of her housemate, covered in blood in her bed. She doesn’t have a clue what has happened and the police arrest her as the sole suspect.

The first part of the book consists mainly of the experiences of Christine. The author cleverly manipulates the reader with a few words that make or break our sympathy for a suspect. You know that Christine is innocent, or not? That all depends on whether she’s a reliable narrator or not. You simply don’t know in this kind of books if she tells the truth. The premise is brilliant but the story takes a major turn when another redhead goes missing and both cases seem to be related. From that moment on, Christine’s story becomes less important but at least there’s hope for her love life.
In this volume, we get a clearer picture of some of the supporting characters that it makes me think that Gaby will settle down in this new location. Not everybody was happy with her arrival in the team but she gets on with most of her new colleagues. Only the pathologist seems to have it in for her. The family liaisons officer she befriended in the last story has followed her to this new area. If anything, she’s getting promoted a bit too quickly to remain real.
Vivid pictures with even smell included, point out the horror of discovering a murder victim. The author gives very detailed descriptions of a crime scene, so if you’re squeamish sometimes you better skip a page.
Owen is a favourite of mine. He’s got a photographic memory, something that’s very handy for a police officer. But he’s also a loving husband and father, with excellent work ethics. Sometimes he gets that much drawn into a case, that Gaby has to remind him to go home to his pregnant wife.
I thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for their free ARC and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.