1995. Six high school students who live in the perfect little town of Wesley Falls head down to an abandoned mine for a big party. Uh huh, you're getting the idea right? The six see something unbelievable down in the mine. They swear to each that they'll never speak about it again, to be careful, and to get out of the town as soon as they graduate. Gotcha yet? I was - I needed to know more about the mine and what they saw.
2025. Five of the six return to Wesley Falls - and I'll leave it there for you to discover what happens next...
A Step Past Darkness is told in a now and then style. I always like this style of storytelling. Just when we're on the cusp of something, we're taken back to the teen years. It makes for addictive reading.
All six characters are given a voice, so we see what's going on from very different views and timelines. Each one has a unique personality. I quite liked them all, but especially Jia. Her view is not quite like the others. Kurian has fleshed out each protagonist with a rich personal story that enhances the story being told.
The suspense action and danger and action is palpable. (There's a bit of a Stranger Things feel to this tale.) And the final aha is was spot on for this reader. See for yourself. Read an excerpt of A Step Past Darkness. I'll be watching for Kurian's third book!
I have this one on my Kindle. Think I got it as a 'on-sale' book. Anyway, look forward to trying it. This theme of using friends from long ago and then having them get together again and murder...it's pretty common right now. I've found that some authors do better with it than others. Sounds like this one hits a good note.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kay - there's a glut of tales that use the then and now premise. This one was a bit different. A bit of Stranger Things vibe. I look forward to seeing what you think.
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