EXCERPT: Wednesday, 4 June 1975 - The Darkest Day

The Peugeot doesn't stand a chance when the Mercedes livestock truck carrying 150 unhappy sheep ploughs into it on the back road to Creswick. It is the fourth day of June 1975, the fourth day of winter and darkness falls by 5.30. Pippa, who is just six years old and loves nothing more than her Ballerina Barbie (though Deluxe Curl Barbie comes a close second), has chosen to perch on the edge of the back seat, right in the middle so she has a better view out the front windscreen because she isn't quite tall enough to see out the side windows. But her brother Max, who is seven, just won't stop the rib-digging and the hair-pulling, and when she complains her dad, Liam, says, 'Don't tease your sister, Max,' and Max just keeps going, so finally she turns to punch him. She clenches her fist hard and she swings her arm out and right at that moment, before her fist even has the chance to connect with Max's cheek, the truck lands on them.

ABOUT 'WITH WINTER COMES DARKNESS': A terrible accident burns down a family's life on the same day a murder is committed. From the ashes of these acts comes revelation, darkness, and the truth. Psychological suspense and profound family drama meet in this heartrending and original Australian novel.

1975, Ballarat Alice is happy in her world and in return for her happiness the world is good to her. She has everything she needs - a lovely house and children, and a devoted husband. Even though her journalism job doesn't pay much, she doesn't have to worry about the bills. All is well with her world until a terrible accident rips a child from her, a profound betrayal is uncovered, and things fall apart.

On the same day Alice's world collapses, a man is found brutally murdered on respected teacher Ellery's farm. Ellery can't remember what happened but there is blood on his clothes, and he is arrested.

Neither Alice nor Ellery realise that their paths in life are about to intertwine and a desperate bargain is about to be made. A bargain that could save or destroy them in their quest to draw some light and fathom the darkness that surrounds them.

MY THOUGHTS: With Winter Comes Darkness is not a book to be rushed through. The writing is intricate, richly detailed, quietly powerful and almost poetic at times. There were instances I had to close the covers and walk away just to breathe, to get away from the anguish that oozes from the pages. At times I felt my heart was breaking for Max, who stops talking, and for Alice, whose whole world has imploded, and yes, even (maybe especially) for Ellery, awaiting trial for murder.

Lena, Alice's mother, and Maggie, Liam's mother, are wonderful supplementary characters; each of whom expresses their love in different ways and each of whom has hidden depths. Bruce would have to get the award for the world's most supportive and understanding boss. I fell in, then out, of love with Claudia very rapidly, and the less said about Liam the better. Detective Rush is another character with hidden depths. Every character in this book is so well drawn that they could walk off the page and into real life.

This is a book filled with drama, tragedy and love; a mother's love for her child (several times over); the tragedy of losing a child; the drama of a marriage going down the drain. And then there is Ellery. Enigmatic, mysterious Ellery on remand for murder, who fascinates Alice and gives her life focus. Ellery is the character who really stood out for me. Ellery and Max, each of whom is carrying a massive burden, a secret that is crippling them.

This is a subtly written story, one that will tear at your heartstrings. I defy anyone to read this without shedding a tear or two. It is beautiful and tragic. It is a classic in the making.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#WithWinterComesDarkness #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: She has lived in country Victoria, Australia, for most of her life. When Robbi isn't writing, she is painting, or reading or hanging out with her family and friends, all of whom she adores. She loves procrasti-cooking, especially when thinking about the next chapter in her writing. She also loves cheese, any cheese, all cheese and lemon gin or dirty martinis, the blues, and more cheese.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA, via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of With Winter Comes Darkness by Robbi Neal for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

With Winter Comes Darkness grabbed me from the first page and I kept me engaged the whole way through. I really enjoyed the separate stories of Alice and Ellery, and how they connected.
Both Alice and Ellery had a lot to deal with, with Alice dealing with a major accident and the conequences of that, and Ellery being arrested for a murder he has no recollection of. There was plenty of suspense as I wanted to know: Who was the murderer?, How did the accident happen? What secrets are being kept?
I really liked the additional characters in Liam and Max, Alice's husband and child, Gil and Claudia, Liam's law partner and Alice's best friend and even Ellery's parents. The story was emotional and heart-breaking and gave me all the feels.

This is the story of two people whose lives are turned upside down. It was such a beautiful but heartbreaking read. Set in 1975, in the Ballarat township of Newington.
I appreciated Neal’s research and you really got a feel for what it was like to live in a small town in the 1970s- the Vietnam wars looming, gender roles and all the drugs and alcohol. The small town setting really added to the atmosphere of the whole story, it felt so suffocating at times.

We first get to know Alice, a journalist and her husband lawyer Liam. They meet, fall in love find an amazing Federation home which they renovate and have a family. You are hooked in immediately with their idyllic life and can’t look away as it’s smashed apart when Liam and his two kids are involved in a car accident.

In parallel to Alice’s story we also meet Ellery, a maths teacher who is accused of murder. The two stories intertwine as journalist Alice is sent to interview Ellery in jail. It was fascinating to see the fall out of each of their events and see the unlikely friendship between the two grow. Whilst I enjoyed each of the storylines I did connect more with Alice and her struggles with career and motherhood and then her intense grief. I don’t know how she kept going.

I also appreciated all the different side characters and story, in particular Alice’s mother and Liam’s law partner Gil and his wife Claudia. There were times where I myself felt hit by a truck and lot to process. There was a lot going on but it was handled really well and did illicit a lot of emotions. Alice and Ellery and their stories will stay with me for a long time.