Jonathan Dark or The Evidence of Ghosts – A K Benedict

About the book: 

‘This haunting supernatural thriller is full of hidden treasure that will delight you long after you’ve turned the last page’ Sarah Pinborough, bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes

Maria King knows a secret London. Born blind, she knows the city by sound and touch and smell but now that surgery has restored her sight, the world seems a scarier place and she doesn’t want to see it.

DCI Jonathan Dark also sees a different side to the city. He’s in the shadows, haunted by his failure to save a woman from the hands of stalker, and he won’t let it happen again.

Now a killer has set his sights on Maria, and Jonathan must find a way to stop him.
But when gathering evidence, you can’t choose your source.
Can you save the living by talking to the dead?

‘AK Benedict is snapping at the heels of Ben Aaronovitch as one of the new stars of the sub-genre of crime with a supernatural twist’ Sunday Express

About the Author:

A.K. Benedict read English at Cambridge and Creative Writing at the University of Sussex. She lives in Hastings and writes in a room filled with teapots and the severed head of a ventriloquist’s dummy. She did have a blow-up pirate but punctured it.

Alexandra was the front-person of an underground indie band, has composed music for film and television and is currently writing her second novel. Her short stories and poems have appeared in journals and anthologies including The Best British Short Stories 2012. Her first novel, The Beauty of Murder, was published by Orion in 2013.

My Review:  I downloaded this book after meeting AK Benedict at Harrogate Crime Festival last year and it’s sat patiently on my kindle waiting for me to read it.  Having read several psychological thrillers in a row I decided it was time to read something different.  What I didn’t expect was just how “different” Jonathan Dark would be.

I think I would be quite safe in saying this book covers most genres; crime, police procedural, supernatural, fantasy and paranormal.  This is definitely NOT a standard crime book.  It’s more of an intricate descriptive journey in and around London featuring ghosts, a DCI with several personal issues, a stalker with a killer obsession, a blind woman who isn’t actually blind, ghosts, a secret and highly powerful organised crime syndicate, ghosts, a dedicated police team determined to catch the killer and more ghosts.  (I think I may have mentioned there are quite a few ghosts in this story).

It’s quite usual to read a police procedural book where the main character has a troubled backstory, but NOTHING will prepare you for Jonathan Dark.  He is perhaps the most troubled and slightly disturbed protagonist I’ve met.  As much as you want him to solve the crime, catch the serial killer and find happiness, you also feel he needs therapy NOW.

Personally, I loved the combination of ghosts, serial killers, a damaged detective and the wonderful descriptive and atmospheric description of London.  If you are looking for something different – try this.

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