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A Darker Place Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,459 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Laurie R. King has won an Edgar Award and places on best-seller lists for her mysteries. Fans are addicted to her two remarkably successful series, one featuring San Francisco policewoman Kate Martinelli, and the other focusing on Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes' young wife and partner. A Darker Place stands alone. It is a journey into the secretive world of cults. Professor Anne Waverly teaches religious studies at a respected university. Middle-aged and slightly lame, she spends her days in lecture halls and offices. But occasionally she works for the FBI. As Ana Wakefield, an eager seeker of higher truths, she infiltrates cults. Now, leaving the security of academia, she is on her way to Arizona in a battered VW bus. Her assignment is to investigate a group called Change. As Ana gathers information, she is pulled toward a fiery confrontation with the charismatic leader of the cult. But her growing attachment for two of the group's children may require her to make a greater sacrifice. Through Alyssa Bresnahan's rich voice, Ana, FBI agents, and cult members stand out against the darkly compelling fabric of the text.
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"Laurie King has a Master's Degree in theology from Union Theological Seminary; religion has been a life-long interest, not to say passion. The subject shows up in a number of her works, mainly the Mary Russell series, and in this, a stand-alone novel, although it makes an appearance in the Kate Martinelli series as well.[return][return]The protagonist of A Darker Place is Anne Waverley, a middle-aged professor in an Oregon university. Anne's specialty--alternative religious movements--has involved her in FBI investigations of suspect religious communities, evaluating these for signs of incipient instability and potential degeneration into violence. Anne's background is one of horrendous loss of husband and daughter to such a scenario, and her work for the FBI is in part atonement for surviving--she had left the community to ponder whether to continue in it when the slaughter erupted.[return][return]But she has come to a certain acceptance if not peace, and she is reluctant to become involved in this latest investigation. She does, however--and it becomes for her an emotional trap as well as a deadly dangerous mission. The result is an enthralling thriller with a hair-raising climax.[return][return]What King does as well as tell a powerful story is to educate the reader on alternative religious communities. Nearly every chapter starts with either a page from one of Anne's lectures on the subject, either at the university or for an FBI seminar, and the fsascinating material adds immensely to the quality of the story. The title describes the theme of the book--a dark place into which the search for God and religious experience can lead.[return][return]While I am a devoted fan of Laurie King's Mary Russell series, A Darker Place remains my favorite of her works. It is well-written, tightly plotted and infused with power."
— Joyce (5 out of 5 stars)
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“A nail-biter thriller.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Laurie R. King once again astonishes with her skills in A Darker Place…Superb.”
— Washington Times -
“King always writes well, and her stories sweep along with an inexorable force that comes from a power greater than mere skillful plotting…A Darker Place is a fine study of sympathy and how it clouds our judgment about integrity.”
— Boston Globe -
“King brings to the schizophrenic nature of undercover work an astute understanding…horrifying. Anne is an intriguing character, afflicted with memory and loss (her relationship with her FBI handler is worth a book in itself). And the delicate maneuvers that get her into the heart of the targeted community even as she teases out its secrets carry their own fascination.”
— Houston Chronicle -
“Casts a spell of psychological terror more visceral than any serial killer melodrama and that, for the thoughtful reader, offers intellectual rewards as well.”
— San Diego Union-Tribune
A Darker Place Listener Reviews
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" This book was a great read. I had many hours of very happy avid involvement, curled up on my couch and ignoring the world. There are already many reviews of this book on this site, so I will just ask some questions: How did a very strong, dominant personality like Anne's ever get into a cult in her past? How did she do so well with basketball practice with a fourteen year old boy with her hurt knee? However, I have to say that the questions didn't interrupt my reading, and, in the end, I just enjoyed it so much I kept thinking about the characters. Was the ending too abrupt? Sure, but that's part of the game. I really enjoyed this book. "
— Marlee, 2/13/2014 -
" Pretty good. If I run across another of her books I will read it. In the first half the book the characters and their purpose were clear. The second half got murky. Maybe I just lost interest. "
— Cheryl, 2/10/2014 -
" Our professor has an interesting back story, but it was hard to connect with her emotionally. Basically, professor Waverly infiltrates cults through some sort of contract with the FBI, and the agent that she occasionally sleeps with. Her emotional baggage gets involved when she meets with one child in the cult, and what seems like a pretty benign group turns out to be anything but. The end was forced, with a whirlwind of details and a speedy tempo...as if her editor said, "enough of this alchemy crap! Wind it up"! "
— Kaye, 1/31/2014 -
" so-so.......:( "
— Annie, 1/29/2014 -
" My sister has enjoyed this author for years, and finally persuaded me to try one of her standalones this week. It is hard to put down although the heroine is not exactly likeable. "
— CLM, 1/13/2014 -
" This is a very well written, fictional study of a woman who infiltrates cults. "
— Linda, 1/13/2014 -
" Exceptional story of an educated, middle aged woman who infiltrates a religious community for the FBI. Her intelligence and physical strength is admirable. The detailed descriptions of the landscape and surroundings and the intricate characters really make for a wonderful book to read. "
— Judy, 12/26/2013 -
" I did not like the ending. "
— Christine, 9/20/2013 -
" Didn't like this stand alone novel as well as the Mary Russel "
— Janet, 5/26/2013 -
" It was a good read and such a relief to read a well-written story for a change. "
— Jayne, 4/1/2013 -
" This is listed as a Kate Martinelli mystery, but fortunately it IS NOT. The main character, Anne Waverly, is quite original and the plot is psychologically compelling. A real page-turner. "
— Merle, 2/27/2013 -
" Another great Kate Martinelli mystery. "
— Tina, 10/3/2012 -
" King always holds my attention, this book is no exception. "
— Pat, 7/14/2012 -
" King works her skills of the slow burn here, gradually peeling back layer after layer to reveal the true heart of her novel. A shade below her other work, but still a jewel. "
— Jessica, 6/26/2012 -
" i really liked it. i thought the ending was weak and want to know what happened. it needs another chapter or a sequel or something. overall good "
— Lauren, 4/12/2012 -
" Standalone story (not part of a series) about a woman who goes undercover into a cult for the FBI. "
— Candace, 1/19/2012 -
" Excellent writer. Middle aged female religious studies professor infiltrates a religious cult in Arizona, and branch in England. Very suspenseful, and deep character study. I like this writer a lot. "
— Ellen, 10/21/2011 -
" Set in Sedona AZ, it felt familiar, I am almost positive that I have read it before but even its ending was a surprise. The cult theme of the book was somewhat upsetting. "
— Chana, 8/7/2011 -
" a page turner, dark and scary, exploration of cults. lingers in my mind, feel like I'm still in the midst "
— Margaret, 5/18/2011 -
" I would give this 3&1/2 stars. It was good, just not my favorite. "
— Merry, 1/22/2011 -
" Exceptional story of an educated, middle aged woman who infiltrates a religious community for the FBI. Her intelligence and physical strength is admirable. The detailed descriptions of the landscape and surroundings and the intricate characters really make for a wonderful book to read. "
— Judy, 1/5/2011 -
" a page turner, dark and scary, exploration of cults. lingers in my mind, feel like I'm still in the midst "
— Margaret, 11/28/2010 -
" A little slow at the beginning, but a great suspenseful novel hard to put down. "
— Ted, 10/12/2010 -
" Excellent writer. Middle aged female religious studies professor infiltrates a religious cult in Arizona, and branch in England. Very suspenseful, and deep character study. I like this writer a lot. "
— Ellen, 10/10/2010 -
" Wonderful character development in a great tale of suspense. "
— Betty, 9/22/2010 -
" Standalone story (not part of a series) about a woman who goes undercover into a cult for the FBI. "
— Candace, 3/16/2010 -
" Amazingly real and slightly creepy, this book is a wonderful representation of maniac cults. "
— Sarah, 3/5/2010 -
" this book was very interesting. however, it was a bit hard to follow. "
— Lucy, 2/27/2010 -
" This is a very well written, fictional study of a woman who infiltrates cults. "
— Linda, 1/30/2010
About Laurie R. King
Laurie R. King is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books, including the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes stories. She has been nominated for a multitude of prizes, and her fiction has won the Edgar, Creasy, Nero, and Macavity awards. She has been guest of honor at several crime conventions, and she was inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars in 2010.
About Alyssa Bresnahan
Alyssa Bresnahan is a dynamic dancer, actor, and audiobook narrator. She has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, has earned twenty Earphones Awards, and was named one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices. In 2009 she was a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best fiction narration.