The Dying Light

Detective Matt Ballard Series, Book 3

By: Joy Ellis

Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Whisper Fen Holds Dark Secrets

As the mists roll over the fens and enigmatic lights twinkle in the distance, only the locals know their way along the hidden paths through the mysterious watery terrain of one of England's most beautiful and sometimes dangerous places.

Detective Matt Ballard may have retired but there's still plenty going on in the fens to keep him busy.

Someone trashes an old lady's garden and daubs her isolated cottage with hateful graffiti. Emilia Swain seems to be totally harmless, so why is she being targeted?

Matt's best friend Will and his wife Kate moved to Holland House to put their past behind them. But Kate's mental state is deteriorating and she's obsessed with the tragic history of the house and an old doll she finds in the garden.

And why is Kate suddenly friends with a loner who haunts the fens? Has the dreadful past come back to haunt the present owners?

Former detectives Matt and Liz want to help their friends and neighbors. But how can you help people who don't want to be helped?

©2020 Joy Ellis (P)2020 Tantor

Least favorite of all her books

After listening to all the Nikki Galena series and now making my way through this series, this is my least favorite of all of them. The plot was very bizarre and the characters frequently did things that were “out of character” and inconsistent with the personalities developed throughout the series. After a very long and slightly irritating buildup that focused on the paranormal and this woman’s poorly justified deteriorating mental health, the ending was very abrupt and left many things unanswered. The main character spent the entire book sacrificing his own mental health to accommodate his wife and then did a complete 180 at the end. Just an unsatisfying read all around that to me made zero sense.

Not one of Joy Ellis’ best stories.

I normally enjoy all of Joy’s different series but this storyline was too drawn out and not her usual style of course detective mystery . I persisted cause I wanted to see how it ended but it was not as interesting as her previous books.

Intense

Another excellent thriller by Joy Ellis. The intensity packed into this story makes it hard to put down! You won’t want to stop listening!!

A twist you never expected

I really enjoyed the cadence of this book, I love all of Joys books that I have listened to thus far but this one definitely had a different cadence and there is such a plot twist at the end

A dismal story 

I love this author, and the narrator and all of the wonderful characters from the Fenn. But this book drones on with sadness and despair from almost beginning to the end. The sun never shines, and there is little to no hope. People suffering from mental illness should avoid this book. the ending, like the beginning, was dreary and sad. I think I would have more fun getting a root canal.

I find Joy Ellis to be an amazing writer.

Another wonderful book and listen by Joy Ellis. Mr. Davies did a better job reading this book than the previous, perhaps I am getting used to his voice, although I cannot say for certain.
Either way the book, and the storyline were engaging, a real page turner.

Takes U Away

This is yet again an amazing Joy Ellis book. I was so engrossed I binged it twice. Perfect narration, exactly as written. Surprise ending swept me away.

Not believing Joy Ellis wrote this book...

I kept listening thinking this book would get better...but the story line was super depressing...
I felt I was circling the drain during the last few minutes of this book... Joy Ellis is an amazing author & I cannot believe that Joy Ellis actually wrote this story... Poor Will is totally screwed...from page 1 of this book... Tough Matt Ballard shouldn't have even been added to this book... Matt played the role of a supportive friend but his true character was nowhere in these pages... This book is about mental illness... which is a horrible disease that often takes over & kidnaps a peson's life...That in itself is criminal but over the course of the book there are several other criminal's that are briefly mentioned...but not a lot of time is spent in this story on those evil character's...even though the worst 2 are eventually caught which is a relief...their criminal empire was vaguely touched on leaving an abundance of unanswered questions....there are just so many gray areas in this listen...I feel drained, depressed & weary....I wish I wouldn't have purchased this...it is however, only my opinion...but I really do not believe Joy Ellis wrote this... Maybe it should be a stand alone book & Liz & Matt's names should be changed...

Dark

I love her books but this was a dark thriller
Just surprised a little
One of my favorite authors

way too long for contect

definitely spoilers here. I wanted to slap sense into Will. Kate, his wife, is dying in front of his eyes, possibly committing crimes, and he wants to keep a promise regarding previous treatment by a different doctor with different drugs. People with mental illnesses or addictions need someone strong to step in/step up and take charge.

The story about them went on too long, too many back and forths. Will needed to grow a set of balls. as much as I love a long book not so much when it seems like filler that ends up at same place if 2-3 hours had been cut out.

And I don't believe for a minute that Sofie, who was spooked by Whisper Fens, would walk there all by her self to see Uncle Will. She was made out to be a bright kid, who had lived in the US. I am sure she knows how to use a phone or ask an adult at the hotel to call him - not take a long walking journey to a place that frightened her.

this story was just too long with scenarios that didn't add up. Kate should have pulled Will in with her at the end.

Hope I am not missing or murdered in that area with (ex) detectives like Matt and Will on the case lol