A Darker Place

By: Laurie R. King

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan

Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

Professor Anne Waverly teaches religious studies at a respected university. Middle-aged and slightly lame, she spends her days in lecture halls and offices. But occasionally, she works for the FBI. As Ana Wakefield, an eager seeker of higher truths, she infiltrates cults. Now, leaving the security of academia, she is on her way to Arizona in a battered VW bus. Her assignment is to investigate a group called Change.

As Ana gathers information, she is pulled toward a fiery confrontation with the charismatic leader of the cult. But her growing attachment for two of the group's children may require her to make a greater sacrifice.

Through Alyssa Bresnahan's rich voice, Ana, FBI agents, and cult members stand out against the darkly compelling fabric of the text.

©1999 Laurie R. King (P)1999 RECORDED BOOKS

A Darker Place

I usually like Laurie King books and settled down to hear this one--but WOW I did not expect to be reading the best book ever. This was the first time I could "feel" the pain and mixed emotions of the main charatures. I will read other books for now then curl up to read this one again. For me this was the best book of 2008.

One of my Favorites

This was my first Laurie R. King book, but I am truly a big fan now. It was beautifully written. Supported with historical and geographical descriptions and facts, it totally had me from the start. The story is timely and believable, with down-to-earth lovable characters and, of course, crazy villains. I didn't want it to end, though, and wish there had been an epilogue. Definitely a great read! P.S. to Ms. King: More about Ann and Glenn PLEASE.

Wow! I Want MORE!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Darker Place to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but the audible version is very well done.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot is definitely well written. I love the twists and turns and thought processes when you are pretending to be someone that you are not and being found out could be fatal.

What does Alyssa Bresnahan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Alyssa Bresnahan has a great, gentle voice with a hidden strenghth. I felt this went well with the first person perspective of this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book was very scary, but then I am very interested in cults and the way that they operate.

Any additional comments?

I can't believe I waited to read to this book, it's a real draw!

Atmosphere of a sad woman's mind

A well written story, though I found the end a little too abrupt.
Quite a dark atmosphere, mostly depicted via Anne/Ana's tragic past and her attempts, throughout the book, to work through this in the present with the two children she encounters in the Change community.
It's certainly an absorbing listen and well narrated too :)

details, details

I've read some of King's Sherlock Holmes titles and enjoyed them. She's a good writer . . . but in this case, not such a great story-teller. King anatomizes everything, and many of the details are compelling and make the story real and bring characters to life. Unfortunately, much of this reads like running in place: although there is a story arc, it's a very long flat arc, with the rising action and denouement occurring in the last few pages and for the most part off-stage. The lovingly-rendered world and the few characters and the pleasant prose kept me listening, but despite heavy foreshadowing and ominous flashbacks, the story never really got going: an endless series of quotidian events eventually erupted in a flurry of action (again, largely off-stage), making for a generally unsatisfying listen. The abrupt shift from Sedona to England about 2/3 of the way through seemed more a desperation move to salvage the narrative than a logical or necessary narrative maneuver, rendering the immensely long introduction a real waste of time (and I was never convinced King had ever been to Sedona or driven a Volkswagen van, either). The novel set out to be about religious zealotry and fatal conflicts with ham-fisted authorities, but was really about a woman who had lost her daughter . . . either one would have been fine, but it ended up being satisfactory at neither.

an amazing story

I found this story gripping from the opening lines through to the end. Ann Waverly 's mission to understand and evaluate the religious cult is dangerous and demanding, and her way of atoning for her daughter and husband's long ago deaths. the narrator is excellent.

Love Laurie R. King's other novels

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

King uses words wonderfully, but the main character in this novel was unlikeable and strange. She referred to herself as "old' being only in her late 40s. The topic of cults is very timely, but the painful descriptions of 'putting on an apron or planting seedlings' was awful and dull. Strange novel.....like Mary Russel/Sherlock Holmes series is far superior!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Will take a break as there are no other Mary Russel novels to be enjoyed.

Would you be willing to try another one of Alyssa Bresnahan’s performances?

No, do not like her voice!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Was involved in a 'spiritual community' in the 1970s and felt disappointment about this topic being handled so poorly. Thought King would have had more insight and weave a better story.

A Double Life

Would you listen to A Darker Place again? Why?

I just finished listening to this book for the second time. I'll listen again after a time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Darker Place?

When Ann meets a child with dark curly hair so like her own daughter, and Ann is lost to the task of saving the child from potential disaster.

Which scene was your favorite?

The seen when Ann literally spills the beans after hearing the scream of pig being slaughtered. It shows how much on edge Ann is in her situation and the horror of how pigs are killed.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, I found it scary to delve deep into the minds and actions of the leaders of potential cults.

Any additional comments?

This is a most unusual story that takes the reader into a little known world of fanatical cults.

If You Love The Mary Russell Books -

Any additional comments?

Give this one a miss. I bought it because I think the Laurie King does an amazing job with Holmes and Russell - and I am not one of those people who like 'literary sequels'. But those are really high quality. This just isn't. It's not awful - and the plot really sounds enticing and as though it should work - but it doesn't. It's over-written, drags, and the part set in England is really silly. Not least because it's been a really long time, like never, since the English police drove 'panda cars', wore tweed suits and called people 'lad'. The narration was very good; but this just isn't King's best effort. Draggy, almost deliberately un-tense, pretty silly rather cliched plot, and a central figure who becomes fairly tedious. Mary Russell would have wacked her in the head with a bat half way through. Or at least given her a Jolly Good Shake.

A Darker Place

I really enjoyed this book. It required one to pay attention when it was on. However, the lack of 5s is for two reasons: 1. Narrator’s British accent needs work and modulated between bad to Bostonian. 2. The ending was abrupt. No epilogue. Loose ends with the American characters needed to be tied up.

Too Long

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would make it shorter. There was lot of "padding". The story was reasonable but over-long and over-worked.

Would you recommend A Darker Place to your friends? Why or why not?

No. It was easy to see where it was going from the start.

What three words best describe Alyssa Bresnahan’s voice?

Pleasant Expressive Dark

Could you see A Darker Place being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Definitely not.

Any additional comments?

I stuck with it but regretted it.