Thursday, August 21, 2014

Review: Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes


Title: Into the Darkest Corner

Author: Elizabeth Haynes

Rating: 4 Stars

I remember looking up from this novel, expecting it to be around 11:30 in the night and finding it was pushing past 1 AM. Like the bibliophile I am, though, I told myself I'd just finish the chapter I was reading but it was 2:40 when my traitorous eyes, struggling to stay awake, forced me to close the book and drag myself to bed, only barely remembering to shut the lights off.

I don't read too many thriller/horror novels. I relish the creeping sense of suspense, the hint of dramatic flair, and the embroiled emotions involved with such stories but, seeing as horror movies keep me anxiously awake late into the night, I often convince myself such books will do the same.

Into the Darkest Corner, however, is the perfect blend of thriller, horror, and contemporary fiction--all just with a hint of romance. Make no mistake, Haynes's novel is a dark one. Within these pages you will find graphic and gruesome detailing of an abusive relationship, domestic violence, and rape. Yet, it is an impeccably written and thought-provoking account of the type of day-to-day horrors people experience--and we often want to forget. Into the Darkest Corner is told in alternating timelines of 2004 and 2008. In 2004 Catherine Bailey went to a bar in a red silk dress and began an intense relationship with a man she met there, Lee. In 2008 Cathy Bailey lives alone in an apartment, aloof from her co-workers and neighbors, frantically checking and re-checking her locks for fear of her ex-boyfriend, currently in jail.

With every chapter alternating between Catherine and Cathy, it is impossible not to become utterly sucked into this tale. Catherine is young, friendly, flirtatious, and sexy; she drinks into the night, she finds different men to take home every week, and she discards her loneliness in a sea of friends. When she meets Lee--handsome, intelligent, caring--at first neither she nor her friends can believe her luck. While Lee keeps odd work hours and often dodges career-related questions, their relationship is stellar in every other regard--particularly in bed. Yet, week by week, month by month, Catherine begins to realize that her perfect relationship is not quite as it seems. Lee isn't so much besotted with her as he is obsessed with her, eager to control every aspect of her life from who she meets to when and where she meets them.

Reading Catherine's experience, side-by-side with Cathy's present-day problems as a result of her abusive relationship with Lee, is jarring. Catherine and Cathy hardly seem like the same person but, gradually, we can see how Lee's influence has Catherine become the cautious, timid, and often scared heroine that Cathy has become. Cathy suffers from both OCD and PTSD and the vivid descriptions of her symptoms--their direct influence in inhibiting her day-to-day lifestyle--are depressing. I found it difficult to read, particularly as my mother suffers from mild anxiety attacks on occasion and reading of a much more severe version of a similar illness was truly upsetting. Haynes captures Cathy's life so realistically, though, her facts spot-on as Cathy abhors any slight change to her schedule. Including her new neighbor, Stuart. Stuart is a therapist and recognizes Cathy's symptoms upon meeting her but their relationship isn't easy. In fact, juxtaposed with the ease in which Catherine fell into a relationship with Lee it's downright difficult.

But I really, really loved Stuart. First and foremost, he never "saves" or "heals" Cathy. If anything, he gives her the encouragement and support that she needs to seek help and follow her treatment. Moreover, their relationship isn't centered around Cathy's illness but rather around her. Reading Catherine and Lee's volatile relationship is like seeing a painting; the end result without knowing the work that went into it. Even when Catherine likes Lee, before he begins to hurt her, Lee hardly takes the time to get to know the real her, the one beneath the party-going and fun exterior. By the time he should, it's already too late and Catherine is terrified, desperately seeking a way to escape. Suddenly, their entire relationship becomes about Catherine's fear; the desperation she feels as Lee isolates her from her remaining friends and alienates her, alone and hurting. In contrast, Stuart seeks to know Cathy as an individual and as they fall in love, despite the stumbles and mistakes in their courtship, we know it's real; it's genuine and it's here to stay.

Into the Darkest Corner, however, thrives off of suspense. First, it's the suspense in Lee and Catherine's relationship--the unanswered questions. How did Catherine get away? When did they catch Lee? What mistake did he finally make that allowed Catherine to escape? Due to the short, alternating chapters it is never possible to forget Lee. Even when Cathy is moving on and having a good day, we remember Catherine from four years ago and the trauma she suffered--pain that still lives on in the form of scars on Cathy's body or simply the mental torture she's had to live with day-after-day. One of the strongest aspects of this novel was the fact that Lee charmed his way into Catherine's life and systematically turned her friends against her. None of them, let alone her best friend Sylvia, could understand how Catherine could be unhappy with Lee. So what if he was intense? So what if he wanted to know where she was and what she was doing all the time? Didn't she know how lucky she was to have a man whose world revolved around her? Wasn't that the type of man every girl was trying to find? It's a real slap into a reality, both because Catherine's long-time friends choose to believe her short-term boyfriend instead of her and, moreover, because Lee is the kind of man girls are told to find--and that's terrifying. Not the abusive traits, of course, but the bare-bones structure of him is built from the perfect man of our dreams.

All of this only serves to make Lee so much more scarier than he could be otherwise, particularly as he doesn't look or act like an abuser; he just is one. Haynes builds a growing crescendo of suspense, here, as present-day Cathy must cope with the fact that Lee is about to be released from prison--and she's confident he's going to come after her. She doesn't know when he'll find her or how long it'll take him, but she knows that one day she'll wake up, check her apartment, and find Lee there in some form or the other. And that's absolutely terrifying.

Into the Darkest Corner was a novel I couldn't disentangle myself from. I became so worried and protective over Cathy, wanting her to find her own footing in life while simultaneously wanting to whisk her away to Mars so she could escape Lee once and for all. I haven't felt so emotionally attached to a character in awhile and it felt good, frankly, to care so much for this fictional woman and want everything to go right in her world, just for once. I love these stories; the ones that make you forget you're reading and transport you into another reality altogether. Cathy, Stuart, Sylvia, Lee...they're characters I may forget, admittedly, but the overwhelming amount of information shared in this novel about these types of abusive relationships and the suffering they can cause--that I won't forget.

I'd never read or heard of Elizabeth Haynes prior to this novel but, if her writing and command over characters are anything to go by, Into the Darkest Corner certainly won't be my last read by her.

14 comments:

  1. Stuart sounds like the secondary love interest in the book I just read - in the sense that he's not a cookie cutter guy that just saves the day. He helps bring out the better Cathy. Though I've never heard of this one before, Keertana, it sounds really intriguing, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Great review :)

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  2. Lol, I remember the time I read until 4 am. Awww the days before work (I did have school the next day though ;)

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  3. Wow. I am adding this book to my TBR but I am not sure when I am going to get around to it. Psychological books tend to be SO intense and they keep me up late into the night with all the what ifs but I think it would be a pity if I missed this one.

    You know, what's funny? How much certain abusive behavior is romanticized in novels. I mean when you're reading them it seems all sweet and swoon worthy but after finishing such books I find myself thinking about if the actions of the romantic interests were healthy. Is it healthy for someone's world to revolve around one person? I don't think so.

    I am so glad to see you enjoyed this as much as you did, Keertana and THANK you for bringing it to my attention!

    Lovely review as ALWAYS! :)

    Rashika @ The Social Potato

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  4. Oh it's the first time I hear about this one but it sounds nice. But I confess I love a good thirller/horror story from time to time. It's nice to have something different, mainly when it's well done.

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  5. I have read one of her other novels and really liked the mystery aspect to it, sounds like this is another good one.

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  6. I'm so glad you enjoyed this novel. It's my top favorite psychological thrillers of all time. It was such a riveting book. While reading the book I felt like developing PTSD. You can also try Human Remains, it is my second favorite of Haynes. Wonderful review, Keertana!!

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  7. Like you, I so rarely read mysteries and thrillers, but when I do, I want them dark and violent. This seems to be a perfect blend of genres, thought provoking and very cleverly written. I don't know how I feel about two different timelines, though. Those types of things rarely work for me.

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  8. Ooh, a "perfect man" who's really creepy and dangerous (in a bad way)? *shivers* I do like mysteries and thrillers and dark just makes them better!

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  9. Oh wow - this sounds SO GOOD Keertana! :) I adore thrillers and mysteries, and this sounds absolutely wonderful. I really like that even though this is about the horror and the thrill that there's some psychology thrown into the story that makes the characters so complex. Definitely going to give this a try - thanks for sharing and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <33

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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  10. Like you I don't read horror/thriller books that much, because I get scared easily. But this one sounds like a nice mix of mystery and thriller with a nice romance. I can live with that. I'm so happy you enjoyed it. Great review, Keertana :)

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  11. This sounds thrilling and amazing, Keertana! As soon as I'm finished typing this comment I'll be off to check it out further. I'm wondering how things turn out with Lee getting released from prison? I'm totally tempted to put aside all my other books for this one. Brilliant review! :)

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  12. I have had this book sitting on my shelf for a couple of years now, I picked it up from a local charity shop as a bargain. Although it stemmed from the fact whilst studying A levels my English teacher recommended me this book, I used to love her recommendations and I was partly tempted to read this book for my coursework. However, I never got around to it, then a couple of weeks ago I stuck it back on my bedside and considered reading it.
    Sadly, I tidied all my books up and placed it back on my shelves. Having read your review, Keertana I definitely think it is time that I pick it back up off my bookshelf and decide to read it.
    I love the sound of the suspense and the investment you had in Cathy. I love it when you get involved with a character you care.
    I am also on edge to discover what happened to Lee?!
    Fabulous review.

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  13. Here is yet another book that I had not heard of until I read your book review, but I have to say it sounds intriguing. I can't read too many books that focus on domestic violence, as they can get very upsetting, but every once and awhile I find myself reading one. It's difficult to read, but it's also hard to put these books down. They are intense, but you just can't stop reading until you know the protagonist is safe, or as safe as she can be. I may just have to check this one out sometime in the future. If you haven't read it yet, I'd recommend Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen. It's such a good book. Lovely review, Keertana!

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  14. This was a great read! Was written very well and is an intense thriller. Can't wait for Dark Tide. Hope it is as good as this one.
    I like this site :: Painting Sacramento Company

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