Heather’s Bookshelf: Dark Presence
Author: John Turiano
Released: 10/22/24
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
“Life can be cruel. Like it’s somehow alive and out to get you. Like when you wake up with an uneasy feeling that something is wrong. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you’re somehow out of sync with the rest of the world.”
“Dark Presence” introduces Kimbra, a young woman working at a research lab that’s investigating paranormal possibilities when things start to unravel in her life.
First, her best friend Marie is murdered and one of Kimbra’s old boyfriends is charged. Understandably distraught, Kimbra seeks help from an unlikely source- a psychic enrolled in one of the studies at her work. She also volunteers to take the experimental drug, QR-7, at her work.
Things quickly go from bad to worse.
Suspicious of a connection to her work and the drug she took, Kimbra tries to find the truth. But the more she searches, the further into the mystery and the deeper into the terrible things that come with it.
Will Kimbra be able to figure out the truth before it’s too late for her and all those who she loves?
Trigger Warning: murder, kidnapping, voyeurism, adult language, sexual situations, lab animal death, drug use reference, mass shooting, gun violence, sexual assault
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It’s told through multiple POVs, but mostly Kimbra’s, giving insight into the protagonist’s personality, hopes, and fears. The POV also heightens the intensity and suspense within the story. The first third of the tale is a little on the slower side. However, it soon picks up and never lets off the gas. Just when you think you have some answers another twist or turn occurs and gets you second guessing everything all over again. While the events added to the suspense, it did seem a bit unbelievable at times. There were already paranormal events occurring- add to that the amount and degree of just horrible things that happen to Kimbra all in a row and it’s a lot. There’s some truly disturbing things that happen along the way with bits of sci-fi intertwined reminding me of the show “Fringe”. There are a couple of ancillary characters, but most of them also happen to be suspects, so it’s hard to form a connection to anyone but Kimbra. Fortunately, she’s both likable and empathetic. The flashbacks help to provide context for some of her decisions as well as the degree of trauma she experiences when her bestie is murdered. The ending wraps everything up just enough while also leaving it open for a sequel if the author desires.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A paranormal thriller with a relatable protagonist and a ton of twists and turns.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with John Turiano about another one of his books: Flash Back
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
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