Mike Dellosso has always seemed like the type of author I would enjoy. He writes in one of my favorite genres (Christian supernatural suspense), and on a variety of creepy themes, I thought I would enjoy his writing without fail. I was surprised when I read one of his previous novels (Scream) to find myself disappointed. I’m glad that I’ve given Dellosso another chance though – Darlington Woods was a thrill to read!

Rob Shields is a man with a haunted past. Having lost his wife and daughter, Shields is preoccupied with finding his son, convinced that he still lives. This search to be reunited with his little buddy leads him into a darkly mysterious, nearly abandoned town called Darlington. Plagued with a history of death, fear, and darkness, Shields is forced to contend with his own past as he struggles with the forces of darkness that surround him.

Not only did Dellosso keep me on edge trying to figure out what was going on with his story and where things would lead, he also pleased me with a storyline that cleverly dovetailed Shields’ spiritual journey with his physical one. It is almost as though Shields’ spiritual demons are made manifest in Darlington, and the battle he wages is as much (if not more so) spiritual than it is physical.

The only quibble I have is that Juli, whose past is tied to Shields’ in some unknown way, is reduced largely to a wisecracking spiritual advisor. Her ever-ready sarcastic one-liners get old after a while, and I really wish she’d had some more depth than providing light-hearted comic relief and supportive handholding.

Otherwise, it’s all good. Creepy, suspenseful, keep-you-up-at-night pacing, it all works together for a very satisfying read.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com ( )

I grabbed this book off of a goodreads giveaway and wasn't sure how it would go. I'm not very religious and tend to get turned off when things get too preachy. Not so here. While there are religious references and an exploration of the power of faith, it does so in a very mild manner. The plot is intriguing and the characters well developed. I was worried that my TBR pile might drop below 50, but now I can add a few more books by Dellosso and give myself a little extra padding. :)
Thanks Mike and I look forward to reading more! ( )