Review of The Dark Road

[Kristin Cowan]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Dark Road" by Kathleen Rhodes.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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The Dark Road is a fictional story of two individuals who experience a tragic accident and must face their past to move forward. Shelly and John live separate lives and experience a lot of daily stress. When they are involved in an accident, they find themselves neither alive nor dead. On this “dark road,” they face their past and decide whether to move on or let the past continue to haunt them.

The characters were well-developed, and their stories were good examples of childhood trauma. Though the content was heavy, it added a lot to the plot. While multiple individuals experience similar events, this story shows how you can let these events take control of your life or whether you can work to move forward. The moral of the story is that there is always time for a second chance at life, and just because things happen to you doesn’t mean they define you.

At the beginning of the book, Shelly and John are hard to like, but once they are on “the road” and their pasts become apparent, it is easier to empathize with them. I felt there were some loose ends in the story and some scenes that dragged on for too long. For example, I am still unsure about John’s stepsister and her role in his life events, trauma, and potential recovery. I also felt Paul’s involvement with the hospital and the related insurance case added an unnecessary side story that took away from Shelly and John’s evolution.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I took off two stars because some of the plot felt like filler and dragged on, and the story ended with some loose ends. There are also some editing issues.

I would recommend this book to those interested in stories about psychology, especially individuals processing grief and trauma. I would add the caveat that this book has vulgar language, child and animal abuse and death, and other heavy topics.

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The Dark Road
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[Lawrence Stein]

I am trying to imagine what it feels like to be neither dear nor alive. Shelly and John must be undergoing understandable things. I hope that they both choose to let go rather than let their past haunt them. This book seems to be beautifully written.

[Nneka Bridget]

"The Dark Road" seems to tackle profound themes of trauma and redemption, highlighting the complexities of personal struggles. It's interesting that while the characters start off unlikable, their backstories ultimately foster empathy. Your critiques about pacing and unresolved plot points provide valuable insights for potential readers, especially regarding character development and narrative focus. A 3-star rating suggests that while the book has merit, it may not resonate with everyone due to the issues you mentioned. Your recommendation for those interested in psychological themes, with a caution for sensitive readers, is helpful for guiding the right audience.

[NetMassimo]

This novel features some heavy drama with two protagonists who have quite some "baggage" that influences their lives. Probably it's suitable for readers who are interested in stories focused on the psychological element, though I guess some more editing work might improve the plot. Thank you for your honest review!