One of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2020 (Mystery/Thriller)“From its gripping beginning to its sobering finale, Amy Engel’s The Familiar Dark never fails to enthrall with surprising twists.”–Associated PressA spellbinding story of a mother with nothing left to lose who sets out on an all-consuming quest for justice after her daughter is murdered on the town playground. Sometimes the answers … the town playground.
Sometimes the answers are worse than the questions. Sometimes it’s better not to know.
Set in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks, in a small town with big secrets, The Familiar Dark opens with a murder. Eve Taggert, desperate with grief over losing her daughter, takes it upon herself to find out the truth about what happened. Eve is no stranger to the dark side of life, having been raised by a hard-edged mother whose lessons Eve tried not to pass on to her own daughter. But Eve may need her mother’s cruel brand of strength if she’s going to face the reality about her daughter’s death and about her own true nature. Her quest for justice takes her from the seedy underbelly of town to the quiet woods and, most frighteningly, back to her mother’s trailer for a final lesson.
The Familiar Dark is a story about the bonds of family—women doing the best they can for their daughters in dire circumstances—as well as a story about how even the darkest and most terrifying of places can provide the comfort of home.
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There’s nothing like a pandemic to shorten your attention span. Maybe that’s why I keep pulling thrillers off my “TBR” pile, which is taller than my nightstand. My latest read in this genre was one of the best I’ve found in years: THE FAMILIAR DARK by Amy Engel. Because I read so many psychological thrillers, I can often guess the end of the book long before I reach the final pages. In this case, boy, did I get it wrong. But what was even more pleasing about this book were its main character and the propulsive pace of the narrative.
The plot centers on a woman named Eve whose daughter and best friend have just been murdered. Eve is determined to find justice because she (rightfully) doesn’t trust the police in town, one of whom is her brother, to do the job. As a main character, Eve is thrilling because she’s no damsel in distress or witless drunk girl. This is a woman who has seen and done things she’s not entirely proud of, but she keeps getting right back up onto her feet and punching above her weight anyway. Brava! The secondary characters are equally well-drawn–there are no stick figures or cardboard characters here, which gives even the sorriest strippers and drug dealers a humane, sympathetic cast.
Finally, the narrative pace is enough to burn your fingers while you turn the pages. I read this book in two gulps and didn’t think, even once, about the sorry news cycle beyond my doors. I was ever so grateful to have such a delicious escape portal.
I loooooved Amy Engel’s THE ROANOKE GIRLS, which I vividly remember reading long into the night with my little book light back in 2018, so when I saw that Engel had a new book out, I jumped at the chance to buy it. THE FAMILIAR DARK is about a young mother, Eve, whose twelve-year-old daughter is brutally murdered. Filled with a rage and vengeance she’s never felt before, she dives into investigating who killed her daughter, even as it takes her back to the darkest places—and people—she’s tried so hard to leave behind. What I love about Amy Engel is that she commits to the darkness; she just continually GOES THERE, making for a rich, riveting read with complex layers to each of her characters. There are so many bad people in this book, but every single one offers us at least a glimpse of another side to them, a tenderness so buried it’s barely still alive. The world of this novel is gritty and raw, and Engel deftly fleshes out the setting and characters with descriptions and dialogue so sharp, so authentic, that you can’t help but think that if you look at your hands, you’ll find the grime of this little town stuck to your skin. The ending lives up to the book’s title; it is so dark—so shockingly, painfully dark—yet it’s oddly triumphant too. And I just love how Engel walks that line, how she never shies away from the ugliest parts of humanity. Instead, she showcases it, spotlighting it from page to page, and by shining that light on the most gruesome parts of people, she illuminates, even if only for a moment, the beauty in them too.
The voice of the protagonist is so strong and so real that you won’t be able to stop reading…and you won’t even care that she doesn’t do much actual ‘detecting’ throughout the book. It doesn’t matter, because that’s not the point. The point is a flawless description of a very distinct world and the people that inhabit it.
Sometimes you read a thriller or murder mystery and it’s like “very twisty, 4 stars” and then you go about your day and never think of it again. Or at least I don’t. But the Familiar Dark by Amy Engel is like a punch in the gut. Normally when I listen to an audio book I’m perfectly happy to listen to a chapter or two and then check in again later. This is the only one in recent months that I just wanted to keep going and going.
The Familiar Darks asks the question if there is only one thing in your life that you love and someone takes that from you what will you do to get even? How far will you go? Who will you sacrifice to get justice?
Amy Engel is one of those authors who clearly knows the area she is writing about and doesn’t try to pretty it up for anyone. As a reader I appreciate that. This is the story of a double homicide of two tweens and it should be ugly. The motive should be ugly and so should the revenge. There are plenty of twists and turns but no ridiculous plot devices added just for drama. As an other character tells Eve there are only three motives for murder “sex, rage and money”.
I recommend this novel for mystery fans that aren’t looking for a shiny thriller on a yacht or in a high rise but instead want something raw and dark and in the middle of America’s “heartland”.
This is a very dark story of a mother whose beloved daughter is murdered and her quest for justice, or perhaps even, revenge. Eve Taggert was raised in the backwoods of the Missouri Ozarks by a single mother who took drugs and drank a lot and mothered a little. Eve was determined to be a better mother than her mom was to her, but when Junie is murdered, all bets are off because she becomes a mom on a mission. The revelation if the identity of Junie’s father was a slow build, but most of the story was fairly fast-paced. The relationship between Eve and her brother Cal was a realistic portrayal of two kids who raise themselves and grow to depend on each other. The picture that is painted of life in the backwoods was well-done, with lots of good characterization and plenty of suspenseful action, This book is not for the faint of heart because it has tons of explicit descriptions as well as sexual scenes and innuendo. Fans of suspense thrillers will enjoy it.
Disclaimer
I checked out a copy of this book from my local library using the Overdrive App. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
In her second novel geared toward adult audiences, author Amy Engel turns her attention to an exploration of “the shadowy side of the human experience.” The Familiar Dark is an atmospheric, uncompromisingly disturbing study of the way a woman whose only child is brutally murdered reacts to her loss.
Eve and her brother, Cal, were raised in squalor by an abusive, drug-addicted mother with a succession of unsavory boyfriends. She physically punished her children for infractions such as crying because they were hungry, telling them, “You had it coming,” a phrase that came to be thought of by her children as her manta expressing her philosophy about life. The two of them clung to each other, vowing that they would escape their circumstances and make better lives for themselves. Cal became a police officer and, although plenty of women find him attractive, has never settled down. Eve became pregnant before her senior year in high school, but there was never any question about whether she would keep the baby. That’s just what women in their family always do.
In response to motherhood, Eve changed. She quit drinking, smoking, and getting in trouble. She gave up men. Well, except for Jimmy Ray. And ultimately, she did what was required to extricate herself from that abusive relationship. She continued working as a waitress at the diner, and Junie’s needs have always been her priority. Motherhood isn’t easy, of course, but unlike her own mother, Eve has been an affectionate, supportive, and caring mother, despite lacking the financial means to give Junie everything she wants and deserves. Junie’s presence made Eve’s life bearable. To ensure that Junie would not be adversely influenced, Eve cut all ties with her mother.
Cal has always been a doting uncle. And to Eve’s surprise, Junie developed a strong bond and tight friendship with a girl her age, Izzy Logan, the daughter of Jenny and Zach. Jenny went away to college, but opted to return with her husband, Zach, who is in line to take over her father’s boat dealership, to raise their daughter in Barron Springs. The Logans’ affluence was never a barrier to the girls’ relationship.
Despite all her efforts, Eve has carried a sense of dread and foreboding, worry that something horrible would happen to Junie. As the story opens, Junie is expected home after spending the night at Izzy’s house. Instead, Cal arrives at the diner to inform Eve that the girls’ bodies have been discovered in the local park, their throats slit. That was never the horror story Eve envisioned.
Engel examines the lessons Eve learned growing up via her first-person narrative detailing the aftermath of the murders. The police insist they are investigating the crime and seek Eve’s cooperation. But they ask too much. Eve needs to know who is responsible for her daughter’s death and why she was killed. As the days pass, her frustration grows and Engel gradually reveals how deeply the lessons of childhood are ingrained in Eve as, little by little, she descends into the depths of her psyche where the feral approach to life she learned from her mother and sought for so many years to rise above still resides. Eve relates her journey back to the places and people she left behind, including her mother and that horrid trailer deep in the Missouri woods. For all her faults, Eve knows that her mother loves her in her own way. And just as Eve is about to give up on her yet again, her mother “reach[es] out with a tender hand.” Her advice unleashes a ferocious power that has always existed within Eve.
Would Eve have summoned that strength, even without encouragement from her mother? Engel challenges readers to ponder that and many other questions as Eve presses for the truth. As she stealthily follows every clue, Engel ramps up the tension and pace. And with each clue, Eve slips a little further not just back into the life from which she extricated herself, but back into her old self. One by one, she abandons her self-imposed reforms. She has her first drink in years, accepts a cigarette from her mother, and pays visits to the strip club Jimmy Ray owns, as well as his compound, all in the name of learning the identity of her child’s murderer and the motive for her killing.
The Familiar Dark is an absorbing look at small-town America — it’s ugliness and beauty. It’s an intricate and remarkable tale about how secrets and betrayals can harm innocents. It’s a commentary on the fierceness of motherhood, and a provocative exploration of the lengths to which Eve will go to extract justice for her slain daughter. Engel reveals details about Eve’s past, including Junie’s parentage, at expertly-plotted intervals that provide context while moving the action forward.
Eve’s story is compelling and haunting, especially because it is related from her perspective. She is extremely intelligent and highly self-aware. Propelled by anger, she understands, on a visceral level, each step that brings her closer to the truth — why she is taking it, the potential ramifications, what it means to her and, perhaps, most importantly, what her willingness to take that step says about her values and her future. Eve is “at home in the dark” and has reconciled herself to the fact that she will never forgive herself unless she sees her quest for justice “through to the end.” And the end is powerful, tragic, unambiguous and, potentially, controversial. The Familiar Dark is an engrossing, nuanced story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
This story all but broke my heart.
Imagine your only child, barely a teenager, was murdered in the most brutal fashion. What would you do? Leave the investigation to the police? Or take up a vigilante cause that you’d never though you’d have to.
If you’re Eve Taggart, product of the Missouri Ozarks living paycheck to paycheck without two nickels to rub together but a love so fierce for your only daughter you’d do anything to protect her, you take matters into your own hands.
With rich, lush writing by Amy Engel every page made me either shed a tear, boil with anger or want to reach through the page to comfort Eve. 4 star read!
BOOK REVIEW
The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel
-DESCRIPTION-
Two 12 year old girls, best friends, are murdered in a park of a very small town. The story follows Eve, a single mother to one of the slain girls, Junie, and her quest to find the killer.
-THOUGHTS-
This book is a quick one. It’s a page turner and there isn’t much fluff. The characters were amazing. They had depth. It’s like this town and the people living there all exist…and we know who they are. The way the author describes the town is nothing short of perfection. It was like I was there. Her ability to transport the reader to right where the story is set was amazing. I could see it, feel it, smell it.
I wish there had been a little more meat to it. It felt slightly rushed. I craved more.
-RATING-
4/5 stars
You should read it!
-SIMILAR RECOMMENDED READS-
The Silent Patient
The Perfect Couple
Rust & Stardust
I took a chance with this book, and wound up really enjoying it. The story involves the murder of two young girls, Izzy Logan and Junie Taggert, best friends raised in Barren Springs, a small town located in the Missouri Ozarks. The town is poor, and riddled by meth labs, including that of Junie’s grandmother. This makes for headstrong women seeking justice for the murder. Enter Eve Taggert, Junie’s single mother. She is determined to find out who murdered her daughter. Thus begins the narration and a cast of characters not to be forgotten, including Izzy’s equally strong (at least on the inside) mother Jenny and Eve’s brother Cal, a small town cop, and Eve’s mother, who is the meanest of them all. Without spoilers, the story reaches a surprising finish, coming together in a way that certainly does not feel good, but does satisfy. I’d definitely read another by Engel, if only for the excellent writing.
The Familiar Dark is a blistering rural noir brimming with dark secrets and the harsh realities of survival in a hardscrabble town. As Eve Taggert seeks vengeance for her daughter’s murder and descends into the depths of her own jagged past, we are reminded that a mother’s love is a fearsome thing. A powerful, gripping, heart-stopping read.
A dark and beautifully written thriller with a haunting ending that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Engel’s ability to conjure the harsh beauty of the Ozarks is spellbinding. An emotional and powerful read.
Wow.
This title was recommended to me by the publisher and I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it. It sounded a little too dark and depressing, and as the mother of a daughter I wasn’t sure I would be able to finish it. I am so glad I overcame that initial reluctance and read it, as this was an absolute powerhouse of a story. It is brutal and gut-wrenching and insightful and nuanced. The writing was fantastic, as was the characterization. I thoroughly lost myself in the story, even when I didn’t want to be where the author was taking me…
No one knows the lengths they will go to for their child until the unthinkable happens and I found the dark and windy-twisty path of this exploration of the unthinkable to be both fascinating and gripping. I fell into this one from the opening pages and only left when I was dumped by the side of the road at the very end… I will definitely be looking for more from Amy Engel. She presents a horribly compelling tale and her ability to paint characters and emotions with naked intensity made for a stunning read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
This was a fantastic novel! I read this author’s previous book, The Roanoke Girls, and fell in love with this author’s writing so I knew I wanted to read this book just as soon as I saw it. I went into the book with rather high expectations and they were met. This was a book that I found very hard to put down. The story was surprising at times and emotional in others. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading this story.
The book opens with Eve receiving a visit from her brother Cal while working her shift at the local diner. Cal is a local police officer and is there to tell Eve that her 12-year-old daughter, Junie has been murdered along with another child. My heart broke right with Eve’s. The descriptions of how she got through those first few days really got to me. Eve worked hard to be a good mother to Junie and only had her brother Cal to lean on. After Junie’s death, Eve has nothing left to lose and decides she will stop at nothing to get justice for her daughter.
I thought that the characters in this story were very well done. There is a pretty eclectic group of characters represented in this story and they all felt very real to me. I found that while I was pretty shocked by some of the turns the story took, the actions of the characters always felt authentic. I really felt like I was in Eve’s head and I understood her motivation to learn what happened to her daughter.
I love the fact that this book was able to surprise me. And it didn’t just surprise me once because there were several times where the story took a turn that I didn’t expect. I love that this story made me feel. There were times that this story really got to me. Eve was such a strong character who was put in one of the most difficult situations that I can imagine. I honestly don’t know how someone could read this book and not feel for Eve. I also love that the mystery in this story really kept me guessing. I had no idea who killed those two girls but I was just as desperate as Eve to find out. I found the mystery to be complex and very well done.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found this to be a wonderfully told story that was heartbreaking at times. I cannot wait to read more from this very talented author!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Penguin Publishing Group – Dutton via Edelweiss.
Two 12-year-old girls are murdered at the town playground. Two little girls who were best friends. Two little girls that never got to live out their lives. Two little girls .. one from the poor side of town with only a single mother…. a mother who loved her daughter unconditionally … the mom who would do anything to have her back. The other … not rich, but well off, with two parents who loved their daughter with everything they had.
Eve Taggart may have been raised on the wrong side of the tracks, but her daughter was everything to her. Junie was a smart, happy kid. Who on earth wanted her dead? Izzy, maybe not as smart as Junie, but a sweet innocent child. Who on earth wanted her dead.
Eve learned one thing from her own abusive mother … nobody messes with family and you never let anyone take anything from you.
Eve is desperate with grief and decides to find out the truth … who killed her child and why. But small towns have big secrets. Eve looks around … the man who works at the tire store and watches young girls a little too closely …. the man she had an affair with who loves his alcohol and easily becomes mean and unpredictable at times … the woman whose boyfriend she stole while in high school … the killer could be any of these … or none of these.
Other than WHO, the one constant thought is WHY? And Eve wants nothing more than to dish out her own brand of justice for her daughter.
This is a complex, emotional journey of women who do the best they can do for their daughters in dire circumstances. It’s a love story. It’s an emotional roller coaster as the reader follows Eve, with her memories of growing up, with her thoughts of the choices she has made over the years.
There are secrets and lies and twists and turns that lead to an unpredictable ending. Tissues may be required for this reading.
Many thanks to the author / Penguin Group – Dutton / Netgalley for the digital copy of this riveting crime fiction thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.