Book Review: "These Dark Places" by Hilary Tailor

There are times when you discover a book that you've never even heard of by an author that you've never read in your life. Hilary Tailor is a writer with some great talents for penning a literary thriller. I was initially apprehensive to start something so heavy and yet, I could not actually wait to read it. Della's story is one of heartbreak and madness as her husband, Leo, randomly dies of a haemorrhage only days before their 18th wedding anniversary. But as soon as Leo dies and her marriage turns into the era of widowhood, Della is just on the edge with absolute heartbreak over losing the best thing that had ever happened to her. But, with a body buried in the yard, and a refusal to sell the house, no money left in an account which had thousands of pounds in it once upon a time and atop of that, a new woman moving in next door - Della realises she didn't know her husband at all. Hilary Tailor tells a story of horror and nightmares as lives are burned down and restarted, things are remoulded and smashed upon the studio floor - atop of this, Della is keen that she isn't going crazy. Or is she?

But then there's Ethan. Ethan is Della's brother who has a troubled past. Once Della's father died, Ethan took over the business and started abusing his mother and sister in violent and vitriolic ways. At one time, whilst Della was a teen reading a magazine, Ethan burned her sister's hair off. The history of Ethan and Della with fire is something to be studied because one of them adores it and the other one abuses it like a beaten partner. It's aching and terrifying but then the mother dies too - in a fire. And there's something to be said about that. Hilary Tailor writes the men as dishonest, terrible, controlling and yet they have one thing in common, something they could not control at all. Both of them the biggest dangers to themselves. Ethan stated he would always find his sister and after threatening her in the woods near her new house, Leo puts locks and bolts on the doors so that Ethan could not possibly get in. But the nightmares are only just beginning...

When Della meets Carrie there's something up. Carrie has a son called Jude and Della has a daughter named Alex - the two strike up a friendship. Both of them have been through grief in their own way and Carrie is some sort of 'earth mother' type with an artistic streak. As Leo's funeral and a cremation takes place, there is something not quite right in his life. Something is missing and Della knows it. Carrie may not be the person she thinks she is, but then again when Della finds Leo's lost cufflinks in Jude's drawer she cannot help that there's something more, something darker. Oh and did I mention, Della can't even move away and yet, she doesn't have the money to stay either. She promised her dead husband she wouldn't move but, since his death, there's something in her yard that makes her stick to her home. She doesn't want it dug up. It's got nothing to do with the dead body in the forest either. Hilary Tailor is just brilliant at intertwining these wonderfully horrifying stories together. I genuinely could not put it down and so, I devoured it in one sitting. I absolutely devoured it. The dynamics between Della and Carrie is fascinating.

But then there's Robin. Robin has a huge crush on Della. He's someone who only got married to Della's friend because he wanted Della. However, there's something wrong there as well. Robin and his wife cannot have children and they don't know why. But something tells us that Della knows exactly why they cannot have children. Della's past cannot possibly catch up with her because if it does, her entire life will be unveiled to be one big fat lie. A huge, massive, darkening lie. One that she doesn't realise someone very important had known all along. If I can tell you exactly how terrific I found the unveiling of this book I would have to give it all away, which I cannot. Understand me when I say this: this will be one of the best literary thrillers you will ever read.

I am in awe. That's all I can say.