I came across PR Black's 'The Long Dark Road' by accident. There is a magnesium in the cover itself, which I couldn't pass by indifferently. And it turned out to be a lucky coincidence and a right choice. The story of a devastated, desperate woman looking for answers to the most difficult questions hit my heart.
After reading The Long Dark Road, I discovered that a good criminal does not have to drip blood or wipe out with dead eyes from all pages. So, if you, as a reader, are looking for brutal descriptions of murders or detailed characteristics of a murderer's complex psyche, this won't be the book for you. However, if you are looking for something more than senseless violence - I wholeheartedly recommend 'The long dark road'.
'It one of those things that happens. You read about it, you see it on the telly, [...]- and then, one day, it happens to you.'
The story in the book tells the story of Georgia - a fifty-year-old doctor, (almost) divorced woman, but most of all a mother whose daughter went missing two years ago without a trace. All we know about that fateful night is that Stephanie was seen on the road outside the town. Determined to find out what happened to Stephanie, Georgia, driven by the last few hopes, embarks on a journey in the footsteps of her daughter. On her way she meets complex and somewhat complicated personalities. And suddenly the reader does not know whether it is the collusion of the environment or the possibly maturing mental state of the main character driving the plot. One thing is for sure, no one in town wants Georgia to be present and no one wants her private investigation. But also no one suspects how strong a mother's love is. Neither- dear readers - that the history written on the pages of the book is a story of every mother who would follow the longest and darkest path for her child.
As I already mentioned, The Long Dark Road is not an action book. There are few fast-paced plot twists and little questions that the reader can answer for himself. What attracts the reader's attention is a well-trained, complex plot with a variety of characters. PR Black shows great emotional sensitivity. In a very subtle way, he directs the reader to a problem that we often forget about when we encounter tragedy, kidnapping, disappearance, and death. What about those who stayed? What about their feelings and their struggle with everyday life? Because besides the obvious tragedy 'there's something fundamental missing. It's like someone took your lungs, or your heart, but you kept going. An evil force keeps you alive. '
Everything is written in a subdued, calm manner. The reader has the opportunity to go step by step with the main character. He can look at her surroundings through her eyes, and most of all, he can feel emotions that haunt her. He will understand perfectly well what is happening to the heart of Georgia when one of the witnesses speaks of Stephanie as a body hidden in someone's freezer. He will know how irritating is Steph's friend from the school bench, who may not fully appreciate friendship. Dr Georgia Healey can easily be identified with Mrs. Baker for the iconic '13 reasons why'. But did Stephanie from the book share the fate of Hanna from the series? Will it be possible to piece together the coiled heart of the mother who sets out on the long, dark path every morning? And what secrets will she have to unravel on this trail?
One thing is for sure. The cover of the book does not lie. The novel is captivating and poignant. I recommend!
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