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Dark Spaces

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About this listen

Lilly Valentine tries to help a damaged teenager - but has she been horrifically abused, or is she lying to save her own skin? Having recently split up from the father of her baby, Lilly is not in a happy place, matters being complicated further by the arrival of her ex-husband, needing a sofa to crash out on, having been thrown out by his girlfriend. In the midst of all this Lilly is asked by a child psychologist if she will help one of her patients: a girl currently sectioned having stolen a car while extremely drunk. While Lilly visits her she is introduced to Chloe, another unstable teenager who slips Lilly a note saying: "Help us". And then Lilly's client is killed and Chloe accused of her murder. Her case is not helped by the fact that the words "Help us" have been carved on the dead girl's stomach....

Helen grew up in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. At 18 she went to Hull university and left three years later with a tattoo on her shoulder and a law degree. She became a lawyer in Peckham and soon had a loyal following of teenagers needing legal advice and bus fares. She ended up working in Luton, working predominantly for children going through the care system. Helen is married to a long-suffering lawyer and is the mother of young twins who take up 90% of her waking hours.

©2013 Helen Black (P)2013 Audible Ltd
Crime Fiction Detective Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Fiction Crime Exciting

Critic reviews

"Unexpected and moving...A Place of Safety is written with sympathy and humour" (EuroCrime)
"A dark and gripping read that will have you on the edge of your seat." (Closer magazine)
"Frightening, depressing, and knowledgeable." (Country Life)
All stars
Most relevant
This was a gripping story with believable characters. That's the starry bit.

There was, IMHO, far too much padding. What did we need to know about Lilly Valentine's first marriage for? Or her son? Or her country cottage? None of it was relevant to the story and all of it was written about far too much. It was dull and just a way of adding unnecessary minutes. After all, if I wanted a soap opera, there are other books I could read.

The other negative was that we have two criminals here with no motive whatsoever except that they are equally charismatic and equally insane. How very annoying!

One gets the impression that even the author found this something of a highly-convenient coincidence. If Helen Black had got rid of the unnecessary stuffing and worked at giving back stories to these two, the book would have been FAR better and almost certainly have deserved five stars.

Good stuff - a lot of padding

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What made the experience of listening to Dark Spaces the most enjoyable?

I enjoy Imogen Church as a narrator, she is clear in who is speaking and which character is which. One of my favourite narrators.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Listened to i in three sittings.

Any additional comments?

Some characters seemed pointless and the two main stories were mismatched and left holes, yet still an enjoyable listen.

Good, enjoyable, but not great

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I have never read anything by Helen Black before, but shall certainly do so again... From the start I could tell it was a good buy & I love Robert Glennister narrating anything. I was convinced I knew 'who dunnit' but got a shock when I actually found out, as it wasnt who I had thought!
I listened to the whole book in just over a day !!
Well worth a listen !!!

Thoroughly enjoyable.

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I found this a good "listen". Some silliness and not sure I would put the author on my "must have" list. Nevertheless okay distraction!

Worth listening to

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Enjoyed this book, guessed the culprit early on but still enjoyed story, very well narrated. Would certainly recommend to others.

Dark spaces

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