Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bryce Moore for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death in the Dark coming out August 5, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was really excited to get this book. I really enjoyed this author. I’ve read all of his books. I thought it was really interesting that it was set in England and it featured Churchill‘s daughter. I don’t know anything about his daughter, but I thought it was creepy and good. I enjoyed the mystery.

Sometimes I forget how much I enjoy a historical mystery, especially when it is set in London. And although this is technically a Young Adult book, I felt it reached outside the typical YA tropes and can stand up against many adult titles similar in plot and theme.

Mary Churchill (yes, her dad is Winston), wants nothing more than to contribute to the fight against Hitler like many of her friends. However, being a 17-year-old female doesn't provide her with much opportunity to do so. Mary goes out one night and meets a woman in a club and ends up striking up a lengthy conversation with her. Mary feels connected to the woman and is very upset the next morning when she finds her murdered. Mary becomes frustrated because she feels that due to the war, the police do not have the staff to investigate this murder, and several subsequent related murders, sufficiently, so she starts investigating on her own. Can Mary find out who is doing the killing without getting killed herself? Will her mother find out what she is doing and pack her up and send her back to the country? And will the police, who initially were humoring her and "letting" her help realize just because she is 17 doesn't mean she doesn't have a good head on her shoulders?

I really liked Mary as a character. She was smart, headstrong and showed a lot of initiative. She feels like she should also contribute to the war efforts and does what she can to do her share any way she can. The murder mystery kept me interested and wasn't overly predictable. I also liked the war elements that were worked in. The bombings and atmosphere around the Blitz definitely added to the creepiness of the murder mystery.

I have seen several books by this author, but this is the first I picked up. I will most certainly check out more in the future. When reading this, I kind of compared it to a YA Veronica Speedwell book so if that's your forte, consider this one as well. Oh, and as a plus - no romance. Not that I'm opposed to that, but it would have felt contrived with this book and I'm glad the author didn't go there.

I liked this! It set up a creepy vibes way early in the story and was an engaging atmospheric read. It's not something I normally would have picked up but overall I thought it was a unique experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not know going into this book that it was a retelling the real life serial killer, the Blackout Ripper (Gordon Cummins). I had never heard of him until after reading this book. As someone who is into true crime and learning about serial killers, I knew I would enjoy this book.
I did struggle with the first person perspective, but that isn't exclusive to this book as I tend to stay away from first person in general. I have been trying to read more first person though and I think this is a good one.
I do think the book was a bit graphic for the target YA audience. I would have recommended toning down the graphic bits a little or having the target audience be new adult or even rewriting it a little to be an adult book.
Overall, this was a good book.

Actual Rating: 3.75

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an EARC of this book.

I love Bryce’s books. He’s usually a go to author for me ever since I read his first book based off the H.H.Holme’s murders that i loved. While this book overall was good, it felt like there was a lot of fluff and I found myself bored at times. Maybe because the murders weren’t as well known historically? Not sure, but it wasn’t my favorite title by him.

Pretty quick start to the action of the book.
I enjoyed that the book quite a bit. The historical fiction aspect of the war and London bombings really does add to the story quite nicely.
Not only is there the very real danger posed by Nazi Germany, but there is also a serial killer.
Tons of suspense and action, especially at the end.
Definitely some gory details about some murders included in the book as well as some mild references to sexual assault, just to add that as a warning.

This author does not disappoint. I really enjoy his work. The whole story premise is incredibly suspenseful to begin with. One can't really have a better backdrop than the Blitz. The details of the time period made me feel like I was there. Includes a ton of action, so even though the protagonist is a female, I feel like most boys will enjoy this as well. There's also a nicely depicted theme about those with more power and privilege and those who are marginalized-something that really ought to be dicussed thoroughly in social studies classes. Beyond that, the controlled pacing of suspense will definitly be a useful example in ELA classes. Tightly written, well done, and much to discuss here. Students and teachers will enjoy this one.

I am a sucker for a historical fiction, as well as YA thriller so this was right up my alley.
It is a sort of reimagining of the Jack the ripper killings and it follows Winston Churchill's daughter, Mary, who gets herself caught up in a murder mystery. She teams up with the police to take down the murderer.
I think this book is great! It was fun, fast paced, and keeps your attention the whole time. I had a lot of fun solving the murder along side Mary and the plot twist was unexpected.

When multiple women are found murdered in their London homes during World War II, seventeen-year-old Mary Churchill vows to uncover the identity of the Blackout Ripper, even if it puts her own life at risk. From the author of The Perfect Place to Die, Don't Go to Sleep, and A Family of Killers comes another chilling historical mystery.

This was a gripping book you didn't want to put down. I really enjoyed it.

Really enjoyed this, loved the story and the characters, the mystery and lore was well done and kept me guessing throughout!

It's understandable that a mystery/thriller novel that's inspired by Jack the Ripper, regardless of whether it's based on true crime or not, is going to be graphic with some unsettling details. Which is why this book should've been written with adult fiction in mind and NOT teen. A list of trigger warnings inserted at the beginning would be well advised.

Also, the seventeen-year old Mary Churchill that Moore created is hard to connect with. She's a girl that absolutely means well, has nothing but good intentions, but still comes off entitled in a whiny-pouty sort of way that does not resonate well for a FMC.

What I can say is done pretty well in this book is the attention to detail for the historical setting. The reader receives a comprehensive outlook on what London was facing during this point in WWII and how this affected the streets and daily lifestyles of the city's residents.

Thank you Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the advanced digital ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Bryce Moore’s “Death in the Dark” is a gripping historical thriller set against the backdrop of World War II’s London Blitz. Loosely inspired by true events, the story follows seventeen-year-old Mary Churchill, the daughter of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, as she takes it upon herself to track down a brutal serial killer known as the Blackout Ripper. With historical intrigue, a chilling murder mystery, and a fast-paced climax, this book offers an immersive yet unsettling read.

One of the book’s most compelling aspects is its historical setting. Moore vividly captures the fear and devastation of London during the Blitz, incorporating real details like air raids, blackouts, and the ever-present gas masks. Each chapter opens with snippets from The Daily Mirror and Mary’s journal, grounding the story in both fact and personal perspective. The book also explores a lesser-known serial killer case, making it stand out among other historical mysteries. While I think this book would work really well for high school students, especially if paired with a unit about this specific time period, there is some graphic imagery with the deaths of the victims, which may not be suitable for some classrooms.

Mary is a determined and headstrong protagonist, but she is also reckless and naive, often making decisions that put her in unnecessary danger. Her involvement with Scotland Yard stretches believability, particularly given her status as Churchill’s daughter. While this element feels historically implausible, it does add to the book’s high stakes and suspense. Mary’s motivation is rooted in her frustration at feeling powerless during wartime, but at times, her privileged and impulsive nature makes her difficult to connect with. Her mother emerges as a strong secondary character, serving as the voice of reason in contrast to Mary’s rash decisions.

The mystery itself is dark and gruesome. As stated earlier, the murder scenes are graphically detailed, making this book more suitable for older readers. While the killer’s identity is somewhat predictable, their connection to the war adds a unique and disturbing layer to the story. The book’s climax is fast-paced and intense, delivering a satisfying, if somewhat harrowing, conclusion.

Moore provides a detailed historical note at the end, clarifying which elements of the story were inspired by true events. This adds depth to the novel and may encourage readers to further explore the history of the Blackout Ripper.

Overall, “Death in the Dark” is a compelling blend of historical fiction and serial killer thriller. While Mary’s role in the investigation requires some suspension of disbelief, the atmospheric setting, chilling murders, and fast-paced storytelling make this an engaging read for fans of dark historical mysteries.