Wonderfully plotted and funny mystery starring one of the most engaging underdog protagonists ever. This was a quick and very enjoyable read and I hope it will be a series.

This was definitely a binge worthy book. My first by this author and will read more. .

The plot is about a man who doesn’t have much going for himself until one day he meets two boys that seem to be abused. He seeks help but nobody is taking things serious, so he decides he will have to help them. Will he save them?

Dark Ride
A Thriller
by Lou Berney

I Loved this book. Hardly is someone who was having troubles in his own life. Just a young man who saw two children at the DMV and noticed abuse. Nobody wanted to be their hero. That is into Hardley could not be the person to look away. He tried CPS, he tried all he had in him. The young man was in the saddest way the one who saved more than two children. My heart broke for Hardley.

This isn’t a book I would particularly gravitate towards but I really loved it. The characters were way developed and actually likeable flaws and all. I was hooked from the first chapter and had to keep reading to find out what happened. It’s a book you just can’t put down. The ending was upsetting in a satisfying way.

"Dark Ride" is suspenseful and thought provoking. I love stories with unexpected or anti-heroes, and Hardly is just such a character. Recommended for those who love suspense and/or crime stories. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. #DarkRide #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book.

"Dark Ride" by Lou Berney is a gripping and emotional novel that follows the unexpected hero, Hardy "Hardly" Reed, as he finds himself in a moral dilemma that forces him to step out of his comfort zone.

The story delves into themes of redemption, courage, and the power of doing what's right, even when faced with personal limitations. As Hardly navigates the complexities of his mission to protect two vulnerable children, the narrative explores his personal growth and transformation, highlighting his journey from a seemingly apathetic young man to a determined and capable individual.

Berney's exploration of the challenges faced by Child Protective Services, and the portrayal of Hardly's evolution from a minimum-wage amusement park employee to an investigative force, adds layers of intrigue to the plot.

The tension and danger introduced by the abusive father's criminal activities inject further excitement into the story, making the reader empathize with Hardly's determination and emotional struggles

Overall, "Dark Ride" offers a compelling blend of suspense, character development, and social commentary, showcasing Berney's talent for crafting thought-provoking narratives. Readers who enjoy stories of personal growth, unlikely heroes, and confronting moral dilemmas may find this novel an engaging and memorable read.

This was definitely an enjoyable book. My first by this author but I will definitely be seeking out more of his works.

Young Hardly thinks he is content with his life as it is, underemployed and smoking pot with his friends until he meets a mom and two kids who make him want more from his life. He gives everything he has to try to help them, but will it be enough?

What makes Dark Ride extraordinary is the specificity with which author Lou Berney makes each of his characters distinct and special. In this story, it is 23-year-old "Hardly" Reed's voice that describes the narrative, replete with his keen observations, on-the-nose descriptions, and especially his self-analysis. Hardly is fine with working a low-paying, mostly undemanding job as a "scarer" at a horror theme park that allows him to spend time with his fellow stoner friends and to very slowly pay back his college loans, even though he had to drop out after a semester and a half.

A former foster child who lost his parents at an early age, Hardly can't help but be deeply affected when he notices two young children sitting by themselves with blank faces outside of a government building, their clothing failing to fully hide the three evenly spaced cigarette burns on one's collarbone and the other's ankle. Although Hardly's foster experience wasn't a bad one, he is suddenly shaken out of his complacency with an overwhelming urge to somehow save these children.

That's what this book is all about--one young man's self-transformation into someone who can put together an initially shaky plan to rescue the children from their abusive father and carry it to a conclusion regardless of the consequences, with the help of a group of quirky friends. Although Hardly is the star of the story, the specificity I mentioned is also applied to his "team"--a "goth girl" public servant, a teenaged coworker who lacks social skills but idolizes Hardly, and a former female private investigator who is currently a real estate agent with an eye for younger men. Hardly's older, much different foster "brother" also plays an small but memorable role. The result is often humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, and always unforgettable. Highly recommended.

My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

i always love myself a good thriller and this novel is exactly that!

this thriller essentially has one single plot and it basically follows the main character Hardly trying to save two kids from abuse despite being a college drop out who doesn’t do much with his day to day life. needless to say, i really loved how concise and well written the plot was as other popular thrillers just have so many subplots and minor plot twists that i just end up feeling overwhelmed and lost as to how any of it correlates to the original premise of the novel, but that simply wasn’t the case here at all. now, that’s not to say that this book is going to bore you because it was actually in fact the exact opposite! i was on my toes from beginning to end just dying to know what happens next and let’s just say, i seriously did not expect that ending at all! wow, just wow! i seriously have no words for how well written and engaging this thriller truly was.

also i loved salvador a lot :,). he was amazing and i feel like he deserves some recognition lol.
-4.5 stars

Hardly (Hardy, but nobody calls him by his real name) is a college dropout, a stoner who works at an amusement park for minimum wage. He’s a young man of no ambition, floating aimlessly through life, when a day at the DMV changes everything.

After getting a continuance on his ticket, he’s about to leave the building when he sees a young boy and girl on a bench. They are silent, not playing, not even fidgeting. Where are the parents? When he goes to talk to them, he sees it: cigarette burns, on both children. Before he can do anything, their harried mother comes out and they leave.

Hardly leaves too, but he can’t stop thinking about those kids, the ones with dead eyes who are obviously being abused. The burns on their bodies were methodically placed; those weren’t accidental. He goes to Child Protective Services to report the abuse, but they tell him it could be ages before anything can happen. Hardly isn’t sure that these kids have that much time to wait.

Soon, after CPS turns out to be no help, he becomes a sort of private detective, trying to find out who these kids are. Once he finds out their identity, where they used to go to school, and their parents’ names, he begins devising a plan. He was a foster child, but a lucky one who had loving foster parents. He wants these kids to get a chance at life like he did, and he won’t stop until they’re safe.

The whole book is Hardly plotting to rescue the kids and their mom. He gets a couple of friends involved, and they all try to figure out the best way to help. You’d think a book with a singular plot line like this would be a bit boring, but it wasn’t at all. It was at times funny, thought-provoking and touching. The ending was done well, and you’ll be waiting to get there to see what happens!

I quite enjoyed this book - not only the fictional parts, but the very real way that social services work in America. It explains to the reader how easy it is for people to fall through the cracks, and how difficult it is to get help. Hardly grew on me as a character, especially as his character slowly grew up throughout his quest to save these kids. There were also some good side characters, and the whole thing was very well done. Four stars!

(Thank you to William Morrow, Lou Berney, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 19, 2023.)

Starred Review: I love when authors write of down and out youth that have made mistakes and suddenly do somethings to change. Berney nails the vibe, the feel, and the characters. You will not read mu more of a better character driven novel this year. Excellent it will get your attention!

I received a free copy of, Dark Ride, by Lou Berney, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Hardy Reed is not doing anything at all with his life, until one day he meets 2 kids who are abused, Hardy decides to fight for these kids, because nobody should be abused, but he finds out there father should not be messed with, he has way too much power and control. What a dark and twisted read, I have not figured out if I liked it yet, wow!

This book is the definition of "couldn't put it down." I absolutely could not. "Hardly" Reed is a young man with no real plans in life, content to work a low paying job at a local horror attraction. During the day, he's always slightly stoned and hangs with friends. After getting an extension on a traffic ticket, he has a chance encounter with two young kids who appear to be abuse victims. He reports it but realizes nothing will be done. Hardly is haunted by their faces and is determined to find a way to come to their aid. He befriends several people along the way to help him in his investigation. Lou Berney has created memorable characters that are flawed everyday people, struggling to get by, faced with a terrible situation they want desperately to rectify. Full of twists and turns, the book is a thrilling "dark ride" from beginning to its quite unusual end! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks to the author, publisher, Scene of the Crime and Netgalley for my advanced copy. The opinions of the review are my own.

This is the third Lou Berney book I've read (November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone being the other two) and Dark Ride is Berney at storytelling his best. His characters are well-drawn and the story engaging.

Hardy "Hardly" Reed is happy with his life. He has no ambitions, is currently working as a sheriff in a rundown wild-west theme park and is stoned most of the time. His aimless life takes an abrupt turn when he encounters Jack and Pearl, aged six and seven, on a bench in the Department of Motor Vehicles waiting for their mother. He notices injuries on the children consistent with abuse and knows he must do something. Fanagiling the mother's information from a clerk who helped her, he contacts Child Protective Service, only to have the caseworker walk off the job in the middle of his report! Frustrated by the inaction and bureaucracy, Hardly gains a purpose in life: save these two children. What follows is an often cringe-worthy journey for Hardly as he transitions from an aimless life into a person who realizes he is the only person who can save these two children.

I did enjoy this book although the description of the child abuse was sad. Hardly is a wonderful, hapless character. who, once he got a goal, shifts gears and goes into savior mode. His friends are quirky but big-hearted. All-in-all, this is another excellent story from Lou Berney.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy for review. The publication date is September 19, 2023.

I loved this book. From the beginning the premise is set: two children at the park are noticed by a mundane guy all because of cigarette burns. One thing I absolutely loved about this book and what I think kept the flow going smoothly and kept me interested was the growth of Hardly. The book is pacey, the characters are all a vibe and the pay-off is perfect.

Lou Berney is a master and here he has delivered another story that will have you rolling through every emotion you can think you. I was at times angry, sad, overwhelmed, proud, and hurt. It's not an easy one to read at times, but it's rewarding in ways I just didn't expect.

A crime novel with heart, Dark Ride will tug at your emotions and set up shop in your mind. Lou Berney has crafted an unputdownable story with unassuming but immaculate characters that will give you all the feels.

Hardy “Hardly” Reed is a young stoner drifting through life without much direction. That is, until he notices two children sitting on a bench in a municipal building with signs of having been abused. He reports his observations to Child Protective Services, but the overworked and understaffed department is unlikely to investigate any time soon. Unable to let it go and move on with his life, Hardly is determined to help the kids and seeks assistance from some new and unlikely friends to get a plan in motion. Despite everyone telling him to let this go, he conducts his own investigation and devises a strategy to rescue the kids. The situation is rife with danger and getting the kids to safety means putting himself in harm’s way against violent men. But having finally found a purpose, Hardly will stop at nothing to see this through to the end no matter the consequences.

Dark Ride’s hook is bearing witness to a young person who’s aimlessly floating through life who rises up and stands for something good despite the odds. It’s watching the unassuming underdog who hasn’t amounted to anything pitted against the violent bully who hasn’t tasted defeat and believes themselves untouchable. And no amount of urging or pleas to use common sense will deter the would-be hero from attempting the seemingly impossible, because he’s tasting small successes along the way and now believes in himself, maybe for the first time ever. So even if you strongly believe the outcome is preordained, you can’t look away from the imminent car crash of events because the journey has you fully invested in seeing it through to the end. And in this way, you become just like Hardly.

While the focus is on Hardly and his battle to free the kids and their mother from the abusive father/husband, this book has a small but mighty cast of splendid supporting characters – a young female goth city employee, a sexy 40-something former private investigator turned realtor, a 16-year old loser hanger on co-worker from the haunted amusement park attraction, a cantankerous old granny with great taste in rock music, and a few others – all who perfectly fit the narrative and seamlessly help move the story forward. It’s a flawless ensemble that worms their way into your heart and adds another layer of depth to a fantastic tale.

An unforgettable and thrilling reading experience, Dark Ride is not to be missed.

When Hardy "Hardly" Reed sees two children sitting by themselves on a bench he notices signs they have been abused. This odd meeting sets in motion a wildly concocted plan for 23-year-old Hardy to "save" the children from their homelife. Yet Hardy is not cut out to be a hero, instead he enjoys smoking weed to help him suffer through another agonizing shift at a run-down horror theme park.. Through a set of remarkable coincidences, people step up to help him figure out what is going on with the two childen. A goth-DMV worker, a sexy private investigator turned real estate agent plus a 16-year-old socially inept horror park co-worker each fills their role to move the storyline. Berney's well constructed tale hits on moments of agonizing dispair mixed with sarcastic humor. Readers familiar with the film The Big Lebowski will notice comparisons of how a slacker's just-want-to-get-along life evolves into a much more complicated mystery with a crescendo of an ending..

I loved Dark Ride by Lou Berney and finished the book in one sitting! It reminded me much more of his first book, The Long and Faraway Gone then of the recent November Road.
Hardley is paying a parking ticket when he notices two small children sitting on a bench, a little girl and a little boy. Both children have what appear to be cigarette burns on their skin and Hardley decides to investigate. He tries to talk to the children's mother but she scurries off. He tries to report this to Child Protective Services and the case worker he's speaking to quits halfway through the interview. Then Hardley decides to take things into his own hands and help these children and heaven help anyone who stands in his way! He's surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters including a "goth chick" named Eleanor and a 16 year old sidekick named Salvador.
I highly recommend this title! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

It’s been five years since Lou Berney’s last novel, the multi-award-winning November Road. But, in Dark Ride, Berney’s themes are once again children in jeopardy and the unexpected anti-hero.

Hardy “Hardly” Reed is a weed-smoking, lost twenty-three-year-old who is somewhat stoned all the time. He’s in a dead-end job, working evenings at Haunted Frontier theme park, playing ghosts. He’s fine with that until the day he has to pay a ticket at the municipal building. He sees two children, a girl and a boy, sitting on a bench outside an office. They appear to be about six or seven. Even stoned, Hardly recognizes cigarette burn marks on both children. He does try to report that to Child Protection Services, but everyone brushes aside his concerns. How can they do anything if Hardly doesn’t have names?

Now, Hardly is obsessed. And, he realizes he’s the only one who can help the two children. He can’t even live his own life. How is he to help those two kids? After getting advice from a cougar realtor, Hardly decides to become an investigator. After he identifies the mother of the two kids, Hardly makes the mistake of hanging around their neighborhood. He’s threatened, but he won’t give up. Even when he’s attacked, Hardly won’t give up.

In the course of his investigation, Hardly makes several friends, smokes less weed, and starts to change. But, he finally realizes he might be the only one who can save those two children.

Berney’s once again written a heartbreaking book with an ambiguous ending. It’s no November Road. But, Hardly Reed is an unforgettable character, an anti-hero with an obsession that changes his life.