Terrence Baily has spent six years in prison for breaking and entering. However, the police believe he is also responsible for the disappearance and probable murder of several missing girls. Days before his release is due, he receives a visitor. The only visitor in six years. After this visit the police find a message scrawled on the interview table. It reads, ‘Bring Rachel Krall to me. Do whatever it takes to find her. It’s time …’ After this meeting his visitor, a popular social media influencer, disappears filming her own abduction.

The police believe that Baily has been working with a partner while he has been incarcerated, and they have kidnapped the influencer. Fearing that she will become another victim, they call in Rachel Krall to talk to Baily. Baily is a listener of Krall’s true crime podcast as are many of his fellow inmates.

Goldin explores themes such as fake identities and popularity in the age of social media. Maddison, the influencer who visits Baily, has thousands and thousands of followers, but when the police try to find information about her, they find nothing. Her social media account is a fabrication. Influencers will go to any extremes to maintain and expand their follower base. Could Maddison’s abduction be just another fabrication to multiply her followers?

The narrative is told from multiple perspectives. Dark Corners also switches from the main storyline to an episode of Krall’s podcast, covering events from the main story. This format works well, helping the reader stay on track, because there are multiple dead bodies floating around.

An enjoyable although slightly predictable novel.

Reviewed by Neale Lucas

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Goldin worked as a correspondent for Reuters and other media outlets, where she covered war, peace, international terrorism, and financial meltdowns in the Middle East and Asia. She is the author of three internationally bestselling thrillers: Stay Awake, The Night Swim and The Escape Room. She is now based in Melbourne, where she raises three sons and is a foster mum to Labrador puppies learning to be guide dogs.