WellWorthARead reviewed Apart in the Dark by Ania Ahlborn
Review of 'Apart in the Dark' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This contains 2 novellas that are available separately on kindle or together in this print version.
The Pretty Ones-
I loved the 1970s setting. The music and descriptions of the bellbottoms and platform shoes was spot on, as was the terror of serial killer David Berkowitz who targeted pretty girls in New York. But this story is not about him. It is in this setting, we meet Nell, a friendless, lonely, over weight office worker who dreams of fitting in with her coworkers and making a friend. Each day she grows more envious of the lives and friendships other women have, and each evening she returns home to her dumpy apartment where she lives with her brother who never speaks.
Flashbacks to Nell's abusive childhood, and her silent brother make it too easy to guess what is really going on, too early in the story for my taste, and that …
This contains 2 novellas that are available separately on kindle or together in this print version.
The Pretty Ones-
I loved the 1970s setting. The music and descriptions of the bellbottoms and platform shoes was spot on, as was the terror of serial killer David Berkowitz who targeted pretty girls in New York. But this story is not about him. It is in this setting, we meet Nell, a friendless, lonely, over weight office worker who dreams of fitting in with her coworkers and making a friend. Each day she grows more envious of the lives and friendships other women have, and each evening she returns home to her dumpy apartment where she lives with her brother who never speaks.
Flashbacks to Nell's abusive childhood, and her silent brother make it too easy to guess what is really going on, too early in the story for my taste, and that is the only thing I didn't care for. I would have liked a bigger shock value or a twisty surprise instead of such predictability.
I Call Upon Thee-
Maggie returns to her childhood home to stay with her estranged sister while they plan a funeral. The sisters are all that is left of the family now that both parents and the middle sister have passed away.
This is my 4th read by this author and so far nothing has equaled or surpassed her book "Brother" for me.
Unlike the first story, I Call Upon Thee is more of a supernatural horror which are generally my favorite, but where the first story gave away the ending too soon, this one was more vague to the point of dragging it out too long for my taste.