A dark, gripping, and emotionally charged psychological thriller that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

Carol Gulliford has a remarkable gift for creating tension so tight it almost hums beneath the surface. Out of the Dark is no exception — this story wraps itself around you from the opening chapter and refuses to let go.

Maddie, the eldest of two sisters, grows up under the heavy shadow of a mother whose coldness borders on cruelty. Her father’s love is the only anchor she has… until he’s taken from her in a hit-and-run that feels anything but accidental. Maddie’s grief is raw, consuming, and painfully real — and Gulliford captures it with an authenticity that makes your heart ache for her.

As Maddie’s life unravels and secrets begin to rise to the surface, the story tightens into a claustrophobic knot of suspicion, family dysfunction, and psychological turmoil. Every chapter peels back another layer, revealing just how fragile Maddie’s world truly is — and how little she can trust the people around her.

What I loved most is the book’s depth. This isn’t just a thriller; it’s a study of how trauma shapes us, how grief distorts reality, and how one person’s determination to find the truth can look dangerously like obsession. The unfolding deaths, the shifting blame, and Maddie’s struggle to prove her innocence kept me racing through the pages.

Carol has woven multiple layers into this story — emotional, psychological, and suspenseful — each one pulling you deeper into the darkness Maddie is fighting her way through.

A brilliantly crafted thriller.

 A haunting exploration of family, loss, and resilience.

Well done, Carol. I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline and I can’t wait to see what you bring us next. 📚✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read my Goodreads review here.