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J.A. Schneider
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INTO THE DARK: A perfect marriage deteriorates into psychological terror Kindle Edition

by J.A. Schneider (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 440 ratings
"Scarier than GASLIGHT..." Goodreads
A perfect marriage deteriorates as a woman starts to fear that her husband is a killer…
Annie and Ben seem to have a perfect marriage. He’s a dedicated psychiatrist; she is a passionate art history professor. Then, for Annie, the nightmares start…and fears that she may or may not be witnessing scenes of women getting abused. Is she somehow connecting her fears to the suicide of Ben’s first wife, Susannah?
Increasingly obsessed with discovering what really happened, Annie finds homicide detective Connor Payne, who has never let go of the case. Tensions at home explode into cat-and-mouse terror, with Annie desperately, secretly, trying to investigate…

Advance praise for Into the Dark:

"It starts with creeping menace; then at every twist and turn you feel Annie’s fear and self-doubt, her deepening dread, and worst of all, her terror of losing both her little daughter and her mind. Sensational and shocking -10 stars!" Alice Liddell

"Absolutely brilliant! I LOVE this author and this book was just wow! Gripping from the very first page to the jaw dropping climax, this story burrows into you and doesn't let go until you've turned the last page but even then you're thinking about it. I will remember this story for a very long time. Memorable characters, real and believable, the story all the more thrilling because of it. Unforgettable. One of my top reads this year." Renita D'Silva

"A great psycho-thriller. The intensity starts on page one. The paranoia and fear build like a runaway train. A book like this will transition easily from print to film. Breathtaking. Highly recommended." Goodreads
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  1. Print length
    270 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    March 11, 2019
  4. File size
    1.6 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

    • Books by J.A. Schneider
    • MEDICAL THRILLER *EMBRYO* series
    • EMBRYO
    • CROSSHAIRS
    • RANEY & LEVINE
    • CATCH ME
    • SILVER GIRL
    • RAZOR SHARP
    • DETECTIVE KERRI BLASCO POLICE/PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
    • Fear Dreams: A sensitive woman fears insanity. Intuitive Detective Kerri Blasco tries to unravel the truth of what really haunts her...
    • Her Last Breath: A woman wakes to horror in a strange apartment next to a murdered man, and can't remember the night before.
    • Watching You: A serial killer texts his victims first - but how does he get their phone numbers? Kerri Blasco vows revenge. He comes after her.
    • Shoeless Child: A little boy has seen a horrific murder but is too traumatized to speak. Kerri Blasco struggles to connect with him...
    • STANDALONE THRILLERS
    • Into The Dark: A perfect marriage deteriorates as a woman starts to fear that her husband is a killer...
    • Girl Watching You: A young woman, obsessed by a man she considers a predator, climbs a fire escape and thinks she sees a murder.
    • What You've Done: A small town divorce lawyer ("I know people's secrets") blames herself when a client's teen daughter is brutally murdered. She investigates and finds herself the killer's next target.
    • Cry To Me:Liddy Bell shot her husband - or did she? In the middle of a party she's giving with her guests just feet away? Liddy's sister Kim, a true crime writer, struggles to prove her sister innocent - and avoid falling for a man who might be dangerous.
    • The Wife List: Has a group of men conspired to murder each other's wives - figuring their perfect alibis will save them? That is what Beth Kemp starts to suspect, but is she losing her mind? Her husband says he fears so...
    • The Girl Thief: Ensnared into the lives of a troubled, wealthy couple - or is she?
    • HISTORICAL THRILLER, U.S. CIVIL WAR
    • Kate Warne's Sister is Missing: April 1861, New York City. Civil War has just broken out. Kate Warne, first female detective and a Pinkerton, returns to find that her beloved actress sister, Saskia, has gone missing. Where to turn? Who to suspect? Danger surrounds Kate. Secessionists' fury has followed her since she thwarted their recent attempt to assassinate Lincoln in Baltimore. New York City is also a powder keg, with most elites and even the city's mayor violently pro-South. Or could Kate's possibly pro-South relatives have anything to do with Saskie's disappearance?

    About the Author

    Joyce Schneider is a former writer at Newsweek. She is the author of the 6-book Embryo medical thriller series; the 4-book police psychological thriller series featuring NYPD Detective Kerri Blasco (Fear Dreams, Her Last Breath, Watching You, and Shoeless Child), and the stand-alone thrillers, Into the Dark, Girl Watching You, What You've Done, Cry To Me, and the U.S. Civil War Historical Thriller, Kate Warne's Sister is Missing.

    When not writing she's usually thinking about writing and dreaming up new stories, and can rarely be seen without her trusty laptop. She lives with her family in Connecticut and loves gardening. Find out more about her books and join her newsletter to hear about special sales and new releases: jaschneiderauthor.net

    Product details

    • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NKRVNJS
    • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (March 11, 2019)
    • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 11, 2019
    • Language ‏ : ‎ English
    • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
    • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
    • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
    • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
    • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
    • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
    • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
    • Print length ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
    • Customer Reviews:
      4.3 out of 5 stars 440 ratings

    About the author

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    J.A. Schneider

    J.A. Schneider

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    Joyce Schneider is a former writer at Newsweek and the author of multiple murder mysteries and psychological thrillers. She has studied at the Sorbonne and been an exchange student in the Soviet Union. Now her idea of more than enough excitement is writing thrillers and gardening (chasing off deer and using a crowbar to get out stubborn rocks). She lives with her family and two funny dachshunds in Connecticut. To write Joyce or find more of her thrillers, check out jaschneiderauthor dot net. Thanks for reading!

    Customer reviews

    4.3 out of 5 stars
    440 global ratings

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    Customers say

    Customers find this book to be a great psychological thriller with an intense storyline that keeps them engaged. Moreover, the characters are believable, and the plot keeps readers guessing throughout. However, the writing style receives mixed reviews, with some finding it well written while others note it's choppy and fragmented.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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    28 customers mention "Suspense"28 positive0 negative

    Customers enjoy the book's suspenseful and intense storyline, describing it as a great psychological thriller.

    "I really enjoyed this book. The suspense had me talking to the characters, as it seemed I could tell what could happen, if!..." Read more

    "Well written thriller that will have you guessing for a long time. Characters were strong and lots of nail biting moments. Will keep you up!" Read more

    "...I bet you will, too. Love this story. Five stars." Read more

    "...of woman-in-jeopardy story is not new, the author does a good job generating fear in Annie which results in suspense for the reader...." Read more

    21 customers mention "Readability"21 positive0 negative

    Customers find the book readable and enjoyable, with one mentioning it kept them interested from start to finish.

    "I really enjoyed this book. The suspense had me talking to the characters, as it seemed I could tell what could happen, if!..." Read more

    "...I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait for the next one." Read more

    "I liked this book. Stayed up past my bedtime because I had to finish it. Took all my energy not to flip to the back to find out the ending...." Read more

    "This author has done it again. A great read...." Read more

    13 customers mention "Believable characters"13 positive0 negative

    Customers find the characters believable, with one mentioning that the villain's portrayal felt authentic.

    "...Characters were strong and lots of nail biting moments. Will keep you up!" Read more

    "...Great character development and making the connections and relationships real. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait for the next one." Read more

    "Lots of suspense, exciting. Liked the characters enough, but could have been more well developed...." Read more

    "...Schneider never disappoints to bring richly-drawn characters and an intense storyline." Read more

    6 customers mention "Mystery content"6 positive0 negative

    Customers enjoy the mystery content of the book, finding it will keep them guessing, with one customer noting how in-depth it is.

    "Well written thriller that will have you guessing for a long time. Characters were strong and lots of nail biting moments. Will keep you up!" Read more

    "...is a thrilling psychological rollercoaster ride that will keep you guessing. This author grabbed me on page one and didn’t let go until the end...." Read more

    "...It keeps you on your toes and is so in depth that you expect the characters to be people you know and see all the time...." Read more

    "...does an excellent job with the characters in this story and keeping you guessing. I couldn’t put it down...." Read more

    5 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive2 negative

    Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book.

    "...A great read. Every book I have read by J.A Schneider has been so well written I can always enjoy and find it impossible to put down. What an ending...." Read more

    "...The writing style is choppy and fragmented. This sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. The ending keeps your attention. But really a 3.5." Read more

    "...The Embryo series hooked me initially, and the high standard of writing continues from novel to novel...." Read more

    "Not a bad story, but the writing put me off. Phrases in dialogue were off and in other places, almost like the book had been translated (poorly)..." Read more

    Good Read!
    5 out of 5 stars
    Good Read!
    Title: Into The Dark Author: J. A. Schneider Publisher: J.A.S. Reviewed By: Arlena Dean Rating: Five Review: "Into The Dark" by J. A. Schneider My Rationalization: What will happen for Annie Lamb when she 'fears that her husband is a killer?' What had seemed to be a perfect marriage will take quite a turn for Annie [who was a history professor] and Ben [who was a psychiatrist] as her nightmares start that will connect somehow to her husband's first wife, Susannah who died. When Annie connected with Susannah's former friend who was a detective [Connor Payne] things will really take a turn for her as it seems like there are quite a few 'circumstantial' evidence about Susannah's death but still not enough to catch this sociopath and after all, Susannah's death was to have been a suicide. But was it? With Annie having her daughter [Emma] living in the house with this husband it was really something for her to be able to see how 'controlling and patronizing' Ben had become toward her at times. What will happen when 'Ben's controlling collides with Annie's obsession to discover the truth of what really is going on?' It was quite a story of Annie wanting to stay till the end due to the fact she didn't want to lose her daughter. This is where I say you will have to pick up this well-written story "Into The Dark" to see how this 'cat - and - mouse terror' to find out because it will really be a very twisted story of a very sociopathic sick person. Thank you to the author for the digital copy of INTO THE DARK and my giving my honest opinion of the novel.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    • Cindy R Kelley
      5.0 out of 5 stars a page turner
      Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
      Verified Purchase
      I really enjoyed this book. The suspense had me talking to the characters, as it seemed I could tell what could happen, if! But the twisted logic of the father was very good, which helped in the suspense of the story. He just thought he was smarter, and come to find out, he was not.
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    • Sabinadl
      4.0 out of 5 stars Good thriller!
      Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2020
      Verified Purchase
      Well written thriller that will have you guessing for a long time. Characters were strong and lots of nail biting moments. Will keep you up!
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    • Uvi Poznansky
      5.0 out of 5 stars I gripped the edge of my seat all the way to the end. I bet you will, too
      Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2019
      Verified Purchase
      Reading INTO THE DARK, the suspense was such that I had to fight myself not to take a peek at the end, because even as the protagonist gathers more clues into crimes past and preparations for crimes present, she keeps doubting her own judgement. Annie is forced to keep her investigation under wraps, lost in the inner workings of a troubled family and in a rushed lifestyle, all of which adds a sense of anxiety to the unraveling story. And in the end, Annie is willing to put herself in harm’s way just so that the police get their ‘smoking gun’ proof, so as to protect her four years old daughter, Emma. It is only then that we can once and for all dispel any remnants of double vision about the facts.

      Don’t be fooled by the opening: ‘A young couple arguing. That is how it began.’ While it is intriguing, the argument is merely a projection of Annie’s fears. She built a nest in a place of danger and is looking for answers about her husband’s deceased wife: Did Susannah take her own life, as everyone seems to believe? For the longest time Annie is unsure about a simple fact: In which tub had Susannah drowned herself?

      The charming husband, Ben, a psychologist by profession, seems too sensitive—perhaps overly so—and unable to talk about the suicide. Carrying his own sense of abandonment, for which he blames his mother, Ben is a conflicted figure. Is he trying to protect his older son, Colin, from having to deal with the loss of his mother?

      I gripped the edge of my seat all the way to the end. I bet you will, too.
      Love this story. Five stars.
      4 people found this helpful
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    • Dee Arr
      3.0 out of 5 stars Characterizations Hold This Story Back
      Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2019
      Verified Purchase
      I had mixed feelings when I turned the last page of “Into the Dark.” There were instances in the book where I thought the book would break out and be something special. Then something would happen and the story would stumble, and I’d plod along for a few pages before the book would recover and I would reengage until the next stumble.

      The opportunity to be inside the main character Annie’s head gives author J.A. Schneider the chance to easily build up some suspense, and she made the most of it. For me, living the everyday horror with Annie was the five-star element of this book.

      Unfortunately, two of the major characters didn’t come across as strongly as Annie did. The murderer was uneven, and I never got the true feeling of who he really was. Was he a psychopath, some deranged maniac able to keep it together, or something else? I never felt that a clear focus was drawn for a character essential to the plot. It was also a strange choice for the author to move the point of view from Annie to the murderer for one quick chapter.

      Detective Connor Payne had investigated the murder of Ben’s first wife, Susannah, and it appeared there was an attraction between Connor and Susannah. When this happened again with Annie, the male hero character almost seemed creepy, or at the very least, a bit smarmy.

      Although this type of woman-in-jeopardy story is not new, the author does a good job generating fear in Annie which results in suspense for the reader. Stronger characterizations of Ben and Connor would have created an overall package that was something special. Instead, what is left is a decent story that is entertaining but not as memorable as you may like. Three stars.
      14 people found this helpful
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    • TMBorgwardt
      5.0 out of 5 stars Another amazing novel
      Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019
      Verified Purchase
      The book started out suspenseful and kept that up throughout the whole book. I read it in one sitting one night because I just couldn’t put it down. It starts with a seemingly happy life which quickly begins to spiral out of control. With each step a twist in the plot takes you down a mysterious road and you get sucked in deeper and you begin questioning which part of the story is the reality. Part of the story being told, I initially thought wasn’t real but as I continue to read, the author did such an amazing job creating this story that I began to question what I originally thought was going on. Great character development and making the connections and relationships real. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait for the next one.
      4 people found this helpful
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    • Michael
      4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining until the end!
      Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024
      Verified Purchase
      I liked this book. Stayed up past my bedtime because I had to finish it. Took all my energy not to flip to the back to find out the ending. Kept me entertained until the end.
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    Top reviews from other countries

    • Central Coast Retiree
      5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Ending
      Reviewed in Australia on November 17, 2024
      Verified Purchase
      I like this author more with every book of hers that I read. That's why I am buying my next one. This is a totally engrossing story which kept me guessing until the end.
      I must admit that I was surprised by the end, but greatly relieved. I was thinking that Annie was being paranoic and was wrong about Ben. This is possibly this author's best book. I loved it.
      Report
    • LJW
      4.0 out of 5 stars A manual on domestic abuse
      Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2019
      Verified Purchase
      This novel isn't a domestic thriller so much as a manual on the insidiousness of emotional and psychological abuse. Seen through the heroine, Annie's, eyes, the story gives us all of her responses to her abuser's gaslighting, overt psychological harm, and physical abuse by the end of the book. I did wish the author had been able to show some aspect of Ben's POV besides using the bizarre chapter in the middle which was supposed to show the insides of his grandiose, narcicisstic mind but it didn't come off properly. And, she only did it once, while she could've shown his decompensating mind through his POV more often. I also found the "hero cop" confusing and his motivations for helping Annie swayed between solving the case (he kept saying the evidence of time stamps on hotel door rooms and highway cameras was circumstantial when they're not) and wanting to be with her. Because he'd been "friends" with Susannah before her death this all felt a bit contrived. Also, the ending where Colin and Emma seem to be fine with their dad's death just a few weeks later, really didn't sit well with me. Regardless of whether he "hated" his father, Colin would be far more affected and a four year old happily picking flowers and playing in the driveway with her scooter just didn't seem realistic to me.

      The hallmarks of domestic abuse though, the kind that doesn't leave physical bruises and is so hard to prove to family outsiders - those were perfectly drawn and showed the kind of spiral that a couple will go through from the start of the abuser beginning to lose control of his victim. Not that every case ends in death, but far too many do.

      If you've ever suffered from this kind of abuse, this book will trigger you and is likely not for you. If you have a friend who can't see they're being gaslighted, this book may open up their eyes.
      Report
    • torrenstp
      5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling read!
      Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2024
      Verified Purchase
      This was a fanulouspsychological thriller.
      Ben is second-time married to Annie. He has a son, too. Eventually, he has a daughter with Annie. All seemed to be going well, that is until Ben begins to display a darker side. Ben's first wide died by suicide, and Annie never questioned it. But recent events challenged everything she believed about Ben.
      This story was exceptionally well executed and thought out. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this great and thrilling read.
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    • Bex
      4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and intriguing
      Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2019
      Verified Purchase
      A really enjoyable read with one particular character you love to hate. Time was running out for Annie to discover the truth behind the suicide of her husbands late wife. But Ben is keeping things close to his chest and claiming that he and his son were both traumatised and talking about it would only open up old wounds. Annie needs to know more as she starts having nightmares about the tragic day, and she is worried that she and her daughter will be in danger. With the help of her friend Pia and the investigator that ran the original case, things are coming closer to what really happened that day.
      A entertaining and intriguing book with just the right amount of tension that has you on the edge of you seat towards the end.
      One person found this helpful
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    • MRS N A ORMOND
      5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to have your head messed with!
      Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2019
      Verified Purchase
      This book will draw you in before you reach the end of the first page. The characters are believable and it's a credit to the author that l couldn't take to Ben at all. I also felt sorry for Annie and at times l wanted to give her a shake. This is a psychological pageturner that will keep you guessing all the way through.
      One person found this helpful
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