Paula McLain

"Anna Hart is a seasoned missing persons detective in San Francisco with far too much knowledge of the darkest side of human nature. When unspeakable tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna, desperate and numb, flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino. She spent summers there as a child with her beloved grandparents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her to heal. Yet the day she arrives, she learns a local teenage girl has gone missing. Anna is in no condition to become involved with the search--until a childhood friend, now the village sheriff, pleads for her help"--

When the Stars Go Dark

Louise 

*4.25 ⭐

Set in 1993, this historical fiction murder mystery takes the real life case of Polly Klass and merges it with our MC, a troubled fictional detective by the name of Anna.

The author researched real statistics and cases and also pulled from her own lived experiences of trauma for this novel and it shows. This doesn't feel superficial or forced, this feels very raw and real.
The writing is beautiful, the characters are well fleshed out and I enjoyed the nature and metaphysical themes throughout the story.

This missed out on being 5⭐ for me for pacing reasons; I felt there were lulls in the story at times and a lot of characters to keep track of, I also suspected the perpetrator as soon as I got introduced to him in the story so it came as no surprise when it was revealed.

Reading this book was painful. This could have been 100 pages less and still delivered the same story - which wasn't great. 

In a nutshell, Anna Hart is back in her childhood city to escape a personal tragedy. Anna is a detective who primarily works with women and children. In her home city, it doesn't take long before she is knee-deep in a case related to a missing girl. 

This book was 0% thriller (something I was looking forward to), 25% mystery and the rest is just self-discovery, family drama and all that. There is a flashback in almost every other chapter, which eventually grew to be really annoying. The characters don't really make sense. I wasn't a huge fan of the dialogue (too lengthy). And there was just so much 

 going on. Everything was said, nothing was done. Even the case itself felt a bit too chaotic.

nuha ✨️

Reading this book was painful. This could have been 100 pages less and still delivered the same story - which wasn't great. 

In a nutshell, Anna Hart is back in her childhood city to escape a personal tragedy. Anna is a detective who primarily works with women and children. In her home city, it doesn't take long before she is knee-deep in a case related to a missing girl. 

This book was 0% thriller (something I was looking forward to), 25% mystery and the rest is just self-discovery, family drama and all that. There is a flashback in almost every other chapter, which eventually grew to be really annoying. The characters don't really make sense. I wasn't a huge fan of the dialogue (too lengthy). And there was just so much saying going on. Everything was said, nothing was done. Even the case itself felt a bit too chaotic.

Cheri McElroy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Paula McClain’s first thriller is superbly written, gut-wrenching, and honest. The plot revolves around a woman, Anna, running from pain in her own life, and helping to find a girl who has gone missing in her hometown.

At its heart, this book explores foster care, sexual assault, grooming, and a whole host of other issues that arise from childhood trauma. The story is well-plotted, and the themes are explored with the right touch. I highly recommend this book.

ETA:

This book is more slow-moving, atmospheric character study than a fast -paced thriller. That’s something I love!

Michelle García

Not great. This woman makes so many assumptions while researching that is maddening. Also not a big fan of the resolution. I liked the writing style tho so there's that .

Sarahi Flores

This was a very resourceful book I’ve read. Despite having it to be a fiction, this is how it is in real life. A fictional story but with some realistic concept of child abuse, sexual abuse and kidnapping so this is something you have to be aware of before picking u this book.

Anna Hart is the main character. She has a way of thinking when it comes to these type of cases which is why this is her job. She seemed like a patient detective and knew how to react in tight situations. I enjoyed the mystery and clue hunting in this book. The plot was good and of course the ending was pretty interesting because I didn’t see it coming. I think the conclusion was pretty rushed but hey the ending had to come to an end lol.

I say this was a fast pace novel that contains a lot of psychological trauma from Anna’s childhood and how she is able to come to terms with her past so she can move on. Definitely worth a read if you are able to. I give this novel 4 out 5 stars.

Emma Conarroe 

I really liked it but I guessed what the twist was going to be in the first 1/4 of the book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BUZZ PICK From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife comes a bold combination of true crime, psychology and a hint of the metaphysical. ‘A novel of both great sadness and great beauty; a gripping story drenched in the exquisite allure of the natural world.’ Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale ‘A tour de force of literary suspense. It pulled me under and left me gasping.’ Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles ‘Visceral and hauntingly suspenseful.’ Aimee Molloy, author of The Perfect Mother A detective hiding away from the world. A disappearance that reaches into her past. Anna Hart is a seasoned missing persons detective living in San Francisco. When unspeakable tragedy strikes, she turns to the Californian village of Mendocino to grieve. Seeking comfort in the chocolate-box village she grew up in, Anna instead arrives to news that a local girl has gone missing. The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of a crucial time in Anna’s childhood, when an unsolved murder changed the community forever. As past and present collide, Anna is forced to confront the darkest side of human nature.

New York Times Bestseller

Erin Rake

Suspenseful and easy to read. Some coincidences seemed a little corny but overall very much enjoyed it

Lauren Attaway

I first read Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife probably seven-plus years ago. I have long said I am not a fan of historical fiction, and then I read great books brimming with history and I just have to roll my eyes at my own stubbornness. Anyways, I was beyond thrilled to learn that Paula McLain was bringing what I love about historical fiction when it is done right-masterful detail and the best of the best world-building to the mystery/thriller genre. I read probably more mystery/thrillers every year than I should, so believe me when I say that When the Stars Go Dark is not to be missed. 
	For me, a large faction of the best suspense novels are about the protagonists, and this book has a hero in Anna that is flawed but so gifted and I know that sounds like a cliché but everything about Anna feels fresh. After a terrible unmentionable, Anna is taking some time off in the town she spent several years of her childhood in. When a local girl goes missing, Anna, who is a hand-to-God expert at finding missing children, is pulled into the case. The case and Anna’s life are so intertwined that I never noticeably felt like I was going back and forth between the two, and that is a real treat as a reader. There is just so much detail in this book that my brain almost feels like I just got back from the woods in California, and I am not even one of those people who enjoys hiking. 
I think this book will appeal to fans of suspense and historical fiction, and that is no easy thing. The pacing is terrific, the emotions are overwhelming in the best way. I think this will be one of my favorites of the year, and I have a crazy pile of to-be-reads. 
Thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

Nicole Moreno 

"What is all the suffering for if not so we can see how alike we are, and not alone? Where will the mercy come from, if not from us?" - Paula McLain.


Just finished reading When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain, and I'm surprised to say I feel very at peace. Most books I've read have usually left me feeling heartbroken, surprised, or confused, but this was a beautiful change. Anna Hart travels to her hometown of Mendocino, CA, after suffering from a traumatizing loss and troubled relationship. While in town, she runs into some familiar faces from her youth and learns that there has been a series of child disappearances/kidnappings. Being an investigator herself, Anna obsessively takes on the case partnered with her old friend and detective Will Flood. During the investigation, Anna recounts her troubled childhood and the events that shaped her into an emotionally complex but resourceful woman. The end of each chapter is sprinkled with little cliffhangers that give you a reason to come back. Overall, a simple but powerful read. 


Pros:  

• Simple read that was easy to follow and get sucked into. 

• Chapters were short (about 5-7 minutes each), so it was easy to read the book during small breaks throughout the day without feeling interrupted.  

• The author highlighted some critical issues, specifically, violence against women and children and substance abuse/ addiction references. 


Cons:  

• I wish we were given a few more chapters just on the main characters previous experience (would have helped me connect more)  

• Would have liked more detailed descriptions about other character's behaviors/attitudes.  

Highly recommend that if you read this book, also read the author's note! It's very informative and gives insight into the author's motivations. Im ready for a new mystery/thriller! Any recommendations?

When the Stars Go Dark

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