I DNF the book, maybe it's not the perfect time to read it
The writing was good, but not for me now.

While the initial concept of the audiobook was intriguing and the voice actor's performance was perfectly adequate, I unfortunately couldn't finish it. Despite these positive elements, the story failed to truly grab my attention, leaving me feeling disconnected from the narrative. The lack of a compelling hook made it difficult to fully invest in the characters and plot, ultimately leading to my decision to discontinue listening. It simply didn't spark the necessary engagement to keep me invested until the end.

Death in the Dark was an excellent read. I was initially concerned it might be too graphic or gory based on other reviews, but it ended up being much more restrained than I expected.

The story offers some powerful and well woven historical context, especially the connections to World War II and the London air raids. I particularly loved the inclusion of quotes from Mary Churchill’s personal diaries at the start of each chapter. They added a meaningful and emotional layer to the narrative.

A compelling and immersive listen. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity!

I got this as an audio arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. I really wanted to love this, but this just wasn't great. I know it's fiction but it's just really unbelievable all through out. I liked the narrator though.

A seventeen year old Mary Churchill joins the police in investigating a brutal serial killer in war-time London. Whilst the storyline is quite compelling, the likelihood of someone that young getting an inside view of an investigation is quite a leap for the imagination. The other issue I had was the American vocabulary. Vest and pants would be underwear in 1939 England (as they are today) and other words, such as autopsy and sidewalk also reveal the author to be American. Another character mentions that his pregnant wife is having a girl. That would be a stretch for 1979 let alone 1939. I accept that these might not be distractions for the target audience for this book but they were for me. The narrator was good, however.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Quick paced historical fiction thriller. I wish the story had gone a little more in depth it seemed pretty straightforward. So not very twisty more so about a young woman learning to trust her instincts and herself after living a reserved and protected life.

Taking place in London in the late 30s, Mary Churchill, daughter of Winston, takes it upon herself to solve murders. Interesting read.

The premise for this sounded a bit wild but also fun and intriguing, and I'm happy I gave it a chance. I was entertained throughout and I thought the mystery was developed well. The narration was really good as well. Clare Staniforth is a new-to-me narrator but would gladly listen to more. She's very talented and pleasing to listen to.

It's certainly a bit outlandish and difficult to believe, but I chose to put aside any expectations of realism and just enjoyed the easy fun of the story.

Can definitely recommend if you're into low-ish stakes murder mysteries. The unique setting made it stand out.

Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the ALC.

My first thoughts about this book is that it does exactly what it sets out to - no more and no less.

As a piece of historical fiction, I thought that it was quite original. The perspective of Mary as a means through which to examine a real-life murderer in fictional form was really creative and fresh. The final few chapters of the novel certainly increased in pace compared to the novel until this point. The tension really built and maintained its momentum.

The novel is being branded and marketed as YA, however, I would say that some of the descriptions of violence are particularly visceral. Despite this, the tone of the narration is distinctly YA. As such I think that there does exist some disjunction or inconsistency in the way that the story is told.

One aspect of the narration that I found slightly jarring is quite a common thing with American authors writing from the perspective of a British character. There were minor occasional turns-of-phrase that were distinctly American (such as saying ‘a half hour’ instead of ‘half an hour’. An immersive novel until these points, I would be lifted straight out of the credibility of the narration. In addition to this, the 1940s jargon sometimes felt somewhat laboured and unnatural.

Regardless, Claire Stanniforth’s narration was brilliant. She was dynamic and really brought the story alive.

Overall, this book was enjoyable but I found that there were aspects of the narration which undermined how immersive and credible it could be.

Many thanks to Bryce Moore, Netgalley and Tantor audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Tantor Audio | Tantor Media, the author and NetGalley for an LRC in exchange for an honest review

I adore historical fiction - it’s probably my favourite genre - and this YA thriller by Bryce Moore is a shining example. The author skilfully interweaves a fictional storyline with factual detail, drawing on the real life murders committed by the Blackout Ripper. Gordon Frederick Cummins was a British serial killer responsible for murdering four women and attempting to murder two others over a six-day period in London in February 1942. He is also suspected of committing two earlier murders in October 1941.

Moore shifts the narrative focus away from glorifying the killer, instead centring on a teenage female investigator and spotlighting the social tensions of the era - gender, class and the strains of war. Unlike her fictional portrayal as a sleuth in Death in the Dark, the real Mary Churchill (The PMs youngest Daughter) did not solve murder mysteries - but she was genuinely on the front lines of wartime Britain, both militarily and politically. As others have mentioned, the violence is somewhat graphic for a YA book - so probably would've been better placed in the Adult Fiction category or at the very least had the correct trigger warnings displayed upfront, so younger children would be better prepared.

The Narration by Clare Staniforth was a perfect match - I appreciated the subtle nuances of each characters voice.

I absolutely loved this well researched book's evocative WWII London backdrop and the use of real quotes and news snippets. added greatly to the atmosphere and tension.

#DeathintheDark #NetGalley

Yes this book is good but, i'm not sure why this is marketed as a YA book- this is very graphic so read with caution.

Mary Churchill is a 17 year old girl whose dad is the prime minister- with that her parents have her under lock and key to protect her. During the war there is a serial killer running rampant in the streets. With the cops focused on the war it leaves many crimes unsolved and put to the bottom of the priority list. When Mary meets an older woman one night they instantly click and agree to meet the next morning. As Mary is on her way to meet her she discovers her mutilated dead body which sends Mary into a frenzy to solve her case. When more women's bodies start showing up the clock is ticking for Mary to catch the killer.

overall this book was really good just deducting some points because i don't feel this is a suitable YA read.

17-year-old Mary Churchill, daughter of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, finds the strangled body of an acquaintance after a night on the town. When the police let slip that the investigation will probably suffer due to staffing problems during the war she decides to take matters into her own hands. Soon she realizes that more women have been murdered in a similar manner and things take an even more sinister turn, when the Jack-the-Ripper like murderer takes notice of her investigations...

I'm quite conflicted on this story. The premise is solid, the story is mostly tense and still - I rolled my eyes quite a lot and was bored on more than one occasion.

Mary is quite naive and reckless due to being 17 years old. She makes so, so many bad decisions I wanted to cry. Many of them would have been plausible if she did this whole thing all on her own, but her father is supportive and she actually has the help of the police. Backup is right there girl! Use it!

The writing is quite graphic in places (especially the part in the POV of the woman being murdered!) , so much so that I don't think that this book is suitable for the younger end of YA range. 16 and up seems appropriate.

I absolutely love the creepy cover of this book and really enjoyed the narration by Clare Staniforth. She gave Mary a very fitting voice and kept the tense atmosphere dark and threatening. The air raid moments were chilling.

All in all this book is incongruous in my opinion. I would have enjoyed it more with an older protagonist (24ish), with no or reluctant help from the police and the current graphic descriptions or with the current protagonist who uses her connections better (and makes better choices) and ends up confronting the murderer alone despite this with some more mild descriptions of violence.
Maybe I'm just not in the right demographic for this book. 3.25⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the download of this audiobook!

I loved the premise of this book - the teenage daughter of Winston Churchill investigates murders during the Blitz. The storyline is interesting and I didn't realise until after I'd finished listening that this is actually based on the story of the real-life 'Blackout Ripper'. I loved all the little facts about life during wartime. Although this is listed as a YA book the murders are pretty gruesome and gory and I think it would be better listed as adult historical fiction.

Clare Staniforth did a great job narrating the book.

A fictional retelling of the 'blackout ripper', a real life murderer. The choice to have Mary Churchill be the main character was a little odd, but it helped explain why people took her even a little seriously and it was needed due to her age.

Each chapter starts with a quote from either a diary or a newspaper. I'm not sure if those are historical 'real' quotes, but either way its a delightful little touch that adds context to the story and an awareness of the wider world.

It was really hard to connect to Mary, she's only 17, but she comes across as younger. I found myself rolling my eyes at her behaviour - she does come across as arrogant, whiny and utterly unaware of how much danger she was really in. It was as if, even at the end, she thought this some kind of game, and like the killer said, that her parents would swoop in if things got too bad for her. I admired her determination but the fact that a 'friend' had been killed seemed to have quickly been forgotten by her. It would have made more sense if she'd spoken of that, rather than complain she wasn't a man and couldn't go shoot things so she had to do this instead.

I found some of the depictions a little graphic for what is meant to be a YA - its a dark setting, a dark story and I have no issue with the content itself, but my expectations were shaped by the YA tag, so I wasn't prepared for how gory it got. This is an adult book with a young adult main character.

The ending was a little rushed, I would have liked more on what happened after, of the book explaining certain things - our killer had an alibi for the first two murders, and it was never explained if he had faked the alibi or if they had nothing to do with him.

I couldn't connect to the narrator this time, her voices were very similar and it was hard at times to work out what character was talking - the sergeant was a notable exception. She didn't try to do a Churchill accent for the man himself and somehow that threw me out of the story every time he came on the scene.

A decent enough story that belong in adult historical fiction.

First things first: I agree with other reviewers saying that this book should not necessarily be classified as a YA despite our 17 year old protagonist.

That being said, I actually really liked this audiobook. It was not too long, and the story captivating enough that I listened to most of it in only two days! The narration is done well, with the narrator being able to distinguish different characters without making a caricature of it. Especially the narration for Mary, our main character, was really nice.

The story follows 17 year old Mary Churchill, yes *that* one, as she tries to help the police solve a string of murders in London during WWII. The setting was quite unique for a (YA) thriller, and the writer made it all seem very real and captivating.

The mystery itself was fairly simplistic, the YA character of the novel coming out mostly there, though some of the details were far too gory and intense for a YA novel. Everything developed at a good, medium pace, leaving enough room for the listener to think along with Mary without dragging the story along.

I think my favorite aspect of this book was not the mystery though, but the characters. I couldn't help but root for young Mary, and the way she felt so helpless as an underage woman during the war. I liked the way she went about things, even if they weren't always rational. In the end, she is still a teenager.

Overall, if you want a nice quick read or listen, I think this book makes for a good entrance in the mystery/thriller genre, though not for actual young teenagers.

Death in the Dark is a gripping YA historical fiction, mystery novel. Set during the days of the London Blitz Mary Churchill finds herself drawn into a murder investigation. While the identity of the killer was a little obvious early on the story is still well written and the audiobook was expertly narrated. Recommended for YA collections.

I've been a mystery fan since my Nancy Drew days, and I went through a big Agatha Christie obsession in my teens. Death in the Dark reminded me of those days because of the setting in WW2 London and our ingenue sleuth, who compares herself once or twice to both Poirot and Marple. However, the violent murders of the four female victims were described in a decidedly more graphic way than anything you'd find in a Christie novel. Mary Churchill (the youngest of Winston Churchill's children) is a charming young detective, but her propensity for putting herself into harm's way again and again and again was often frustrating. Still, the novel was suspenseful, and the audiobook narrator did an excellent job distinguishing among a cast of characters from a variety of different walks of life.

Title: Death in the Dark
Author: Bryce Moore
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: Audiobook
Narration: Clare Staniforth
Publication Date: 5th August, 2025

**Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the Advanced Audiobook Copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I'll admit, Death in the Dark almost didn't make it to my digital shelf. I spotted it both in the Historical Fiction and Mystery Thriller sections of NetGalley... but additionally categorized as YA. If you know me, you know that YA is not my preference. No matter how good the premise might be, the writing style often doesn't quite land for me. But, something about this eerie, striking cover kept pulling me back. It popped up again, and again... and again. Almost as if the book was insisting that I give it a try. So, eventually, I did just that.

And honestly? I'm glad I listened.

This is NOT your typical YA read. Yes, the protagonist is seventeen year old Mary Churchill (daughter of the Prime Minister himself), but the content is dark, gritty and brutal. Graphic murder scenes, violence against women, and a chilling atmosphere that feels more adult than teen. In fact, my one suggestion would be to re-categorize this as adult fiction with a note on content warnings for triggers (necessary in today's day-and-age), because this story is so powerful, but could easily catch readers off guard if they're expecting a tamer narrative.

Bryce Moore blends fact and fiction in a hauntingly compelling way. Set against the backdrops of a bomb-ravaged London during the Blitz, we follow Mary as she stumbles into a series of grisly murders—which are in fact the real victims of the very real-life Blackout Ripper (or Wartime Ripper, as also known). Feeling powerless in a city already being torn apart by war, May insets herself into the investigation despite repeated warnings that she's too young, too privileged, and too visible. But that's what makes her compelling: her need to do something—anything—to help, and to prove she can make a difference.

Mary is headstrong, impulsive, and at times oh so naive. But, isn't that exactly what makes her real? Her actions are driven by grief, guilt and a sense of justice. She makes dangerous decisions and learns through consequences. Moore doesn't portray her as perfect, but as a young woman shaped by extraordinary circumstances and events. The fact that she's based on a real historical figure only adds depth to the narrative.. While Mary Churchill wasn't actually involved in anything to do with these murders, her real-life wartime services makes this portrayal feel strangely plausible, and honestly... quite moving.

The pacing is taut, the writing immersive, and the tone is grounded in grim authenticity. Each chapter is prefaced with historical and personal snippers from Headlines and Mary's personal journal, helping root the fiction within the factual timeline. The investigation itself, while slightly predictable at times, still held tension and a quiet sense of dread. And the athmosphere of wartime London? Perfectly captured. Bombs overhead, shows in the dark, fear clinging to the fog. Moore evokes it all with skill.

Clare Staniforth's narration was engaging, capturing Mary's vulnerability and strength. Though, her voice made Mary seem younger than seventeen, while her written maturity was vastly exceeded, which made the characters identity just a bit contradicting. Nevertheless, Clare's performance still carried the emotional weight of the the story beautifully.

In short, Death in the Dark is a sharp, layered thriller with a strong sense of time and place. it's a chilling reminder that history is often stranger and more terrifying than fiction. Moore's blend of real events and fictional investigation results in a haunting read that I won't soon forget. This is not a tidy, cozy historical mystery, so if you're looking for that styled read, your attention may be best set elsewhere. Now, if you're looking for a darker WWII thriller, one that feels raw, moody and filled with tension, then this is well worth your time.

I genuinely wonder what Mary Churchill herself would've thought about being fictionalized in this way. While she had no real involvement in these crimes, she was involved in wartime services through the Red Cross and ATS. She was fiercely intelligence, and as an author herself, I suspenct she may have actually appreciated this alternate-universe version created of her. A heroine caught in the shadows of wartime London, fighting her own battles in a different way.

Recommended for lovers of historical thrillers, true crime-inspired fiction, and atmospheric wartime stories. Just know going in: this isn't light reading, per se. It's dark, gritty, and unflinching. Which makes it all the more powerful for it.

Thank you to Tantor Audio/Media for approving me for the audiobook via Netgalley.

Overall I would give this book a 3.75. I enjoyed this historical thriller, based in elements of true crime. The story was interesting and I was pretty hooked. I have seen people give a negative of the content in the book as it's marketed as YA. I didn't have an issue with this, as I read books that were above my age range as a kid and teen. This aside, I do believe warnings should be posted at start of book/audiobook. There was something about the MFC that I just didn't fully connect with, I am not 100% sure what it was. I also liked the narrator's voice for this one, I did have to speed it up a little though as in 1x just felt a bit slow. The book in the style it's written is very much along the lines of AGGGTM and Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer, but based during WW2. I would recommend as was interesting but just be aware of content.

I quite enjoyed reading this. It's short and fast paced, and the audiobook is well performed. Mary is a likeable enough main character, although I found her a little bland. I'm also not in the YA demographic and I do think might have enjoyed this a bit more when I was younger and better able to relate to her as a 17-year-old.

I've been frustrated lately with books set in England and written by American authors. This isn't the worst of them by any means, but again there are things making it through the editing process that really should have been caught (off the top of my head, "pants" for trousers and using kilometres instead of miles). In addition to that, it felt like the book couldn't quite decide how modern to be in how it presented sex workers and sexual assault. The terminology and attitudes didn't feel internally consistent to me.

I would have liked more mystery in the mystery. This was very much an "it's obviously that guy" for me, and I would have loved to be surprised by an actual twist rather than just frustrated that Mary seemed to turn off her critical faculties at times for the convenience of the plot.