With her first four novels, Essex author and former showbusiness journalist Fiona Cummins unnerved readers with twisty crime tales ranging from oh-so-dark cop versus serial killer tales to psychological thrillers laced with domestic intrigue. In this very good newer novel, Cummins entices us with an intriguing premise: an entire family vanishes.

Forty-ish Julianne Hillier arrives at her friend Piper Holden’s beautiful seaside house for their regular morning run. But Piper’s not ready. In fact, she’s not even there. No one is. The beautiful art deco house, Seawings, overlooking the water at Midtown-on-Sea lies empty. Piper, her husband Gray, and their children Riva and Artie, all gone. Leaving their phones, cars, bags, and wallets behind. The kettle is still warm. Traces of blood on the chandelier. A message in blood on teenage Riva’s bedroom mirror: Make Them Stop.

Just what is going on? Cummins takes readers on a writhing journey into some dark waters beneath the veneer of ‘picture perfect’ relationships – marriages and friendships. Betrayals and nasty people abound. Into the Dark is a gripping read full of fascinating (if sometimes abhorrent) characters. I for one would love to see more tales centred on DC Saul Anguish, a new detective with a deeply troubled childhood (as seen in Cummins’ early novels Rattle and The Collector), and blue-haired linguist Dr Clover March.

Reviewed by Craig Sisterson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An award-winning journalist and a graduate, now tutor, at the Faber Academy, she has won praise from authors such as Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Lee Child, Martina Cole and David Baldacci.

Three of her novels have been optioned for television and she is published in several international territories.