R.J. Jacobs | SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK

 Plot (via Goodreads):

After a childhood marred by neglect, Jessie Duval's finally got it together. With an apartment in Nashville and a job with a catering company, she's thriving.

But all that changes when Jessie works an event where celebrities will be in attendance--including the one person from her past she must avoid at all costs: singer Shelly James. Jessie doesn't hate Shelly. Quite the opposite. One summer, she followed Shelly's tour everywhere. Only, Shelly wasn't flattered; she was terrified by Jessie's devotion--especially after Jessie was arrested. But after a year of therapy, Jessie understands what happened. She's not the same person anymore.

Jessie keeps her head down, but when Shelly is found dead, Jessie's troubled past comes tumbling out and she quickly becomes a suspect in the high-profile murder. As the police close in on her, ignoring other credible leads, Jessie realizes Shelly's murder will be pinned on her--the perfect scapegoat--unless she finds the real killer. And no one knows Shelly's life and inner circle better than her. But she will have to go deeper into the dark--if ever she wants to find her way out.

Review:

Somewhere in the Dark by R.J. Jacobs is not only darker than his debut, but it is cinematic and chilling. Combining a complex and yet relatable protagonist with a ripped-from-the-headlines plot, this was such an immersive and eerie tale that I devoured in one sitting. 

I loved the characters in this one and felt that the combination of strong central characters that all play a key role in this story combined with a dark and sinister plot just made this one of the ultimate reads to get me in the mood for spooky season. I really enjoyed getting to know Jessie's backstory throughout the book and how Jacobs weaved in more information that added to the pacing of the current mystery at hand. 

Right from the beginning I thought this was a really strong read but as the time went on, I found it to be impossible to put down and completely captivating. There was so much going on and I was debunked quite often as my mind tried to come up with different theories. The big reveals in the end were believable, chilling, and shocking. This is one hell of a story and one that will stay with you for a while after its conclusion.

Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5