Mar 22 2009
As Darkness Falls
B-format cover
(Hachette Australia September, 2008; Piatkus UK, September 2009; Blanvalet, Germany, Spring 2010)
About the book:
Haunted by her failures, Detective Isabelle O’Connell is recalled to duty by DCI Alec Goddard to investigate the abduction of yet another child from her home town. They have only days to find the girl alive, with few clues, a town full of suspects, and a vast wilderness to search. It soon becomes a game of cat and mouse, with Bella firmly in the killer’s sights.
For Bella, this case is already personal; for Alec, his best intentions to keep it purely professional soon dissolve, and his anguish over Bella’s safety moves beyond the concern for a colleague.
Their mutual attraction leaves them both vulnerable to their private nightmares – nightmares the killer ruthlessly exploits.
As Darkness Falls was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year Award 2009, in the Romantic Elements category. Prior to publication, the manuscript won the Romance Writers of America 2007 Golden Heart Award, for best unpublished Romantic Suspense.
More information:
Download the first chapter
Reading group questions
ISBN numbers
Australian trade paperback edition: ISBN 13: 9780733623226 ISBN 10: 0733623220
Australian paperback edition: ISBN 13: 9780733624155 ISBN 10: 0733624154
UK paperback edition: ISBN 13: 9780749942922 ISBN 10: 0749942924
Reviews:
“an impressive debut”
The Australian Women’s Weekly
“…the portrait of a small community slowly destroying itself is surprisingly powerful. This is a strong debut from an author who could be a future star of Australian romance.”
Beau Taylor, Australian Bookseller & Publisher
“Parry’s prose flows easily and both the suspense and the sexual tension between Isabelle and Goddard are maintained with poise.”
Geraldine O’Brien, Notebook Magazine October 2008.
“This is a fine debut novel from go to whoa, a desperate thriller that also works as a moving love story.”
Crime Down Under
Buy it from:
In Australia – Booktopia
In the UK – Book Depository (Free international shipping!)
Thankyou for an unashamedly Australian thriller with a tender and believable romance between two damaged people. I loved this book, I found the characters and situation, although dramatic, very believable and engaging. I cared what happened to them.
I will recommend this book to anyone I think would enjoy it, and will definitely be looking for any more books by this author.
Sally, thank you for your kind words about As Darkness Falls! I’m so pleased that you loved it, and cared about the characters. I hope you enjoy the next book, Dark Country, as well.
Thank you for taking the time to post your comments – I do appreciate it!
Bron
I have just finished As Darkness Falls – the condensed version in Readers Digest Select Editions and enjoyed it very much. I live at Macksville and have travelled extensively around Bourke, Lightening Ridge, Brewarrrina and can see where you got much of your inspiration from. I am looking forward to the next book. I can’t wait to see how this romance pans out.
Louise,
thanks for your positive comments – and my apologies for taking a while to respond. I’m very pleased that you enjoyed the Readers Digest edition of the book – I hope you’ll enjoy Dark Country, as well, when it comes out in September.
Bron
My husband both read the Readers Digest condensed version and thoroughly enjoyed it. You really couldn’t put it down. The plot and the characters were thoroughly believable. Great to hear there is going to be a sequel!
I cannot understand why anyone would be satisfied in reading this wonderful book in a condensed version. I’m glad you’ve discovered this great new Australian author, but having read the full version I thoroughly recommend you get the book and read it all.
What a totally enjoyable book. The romance and healing of too badly damaged people and the entire mystry of the crime was enthralling. Thank you for allowing me to read such a fabulous and gripping book.
Catherine – it’s great to hear from people who have read the RD version! And nice to know that both you and your husband enjoyed it.
Sally, RD take a very professional and considerate approach to condensing the books, and it’s a great exposure to people who might not otherwise see it. It was quite an honour to have my first book selected by them, and to be the lead title in the volume. And yes, I hope that readers go and find the full version, but the condensed version does give a good taste of the book – if not the full impact!
Desni, Thanks for taking the time to let me know you found the book enthralling! I hope you’ll also enjoy Dark Country, when it comes out in just a couple of months.
What a truly wonderful book! From the moment I started it I couldn’t put it down. The people and places were so believable I felt like I was there with them. It was so heartwarming to be introduced to such genuine characters in Bella and Alec. This is by far the best book I have ever read.
Thank you Bronwyn for letting us share your gift. Can’t wait for the next one!
Carly, thank you so much for visiting here and commenting on how much you enjoyed As Darkness Falls. It’s such a pleasure to hear that you loved Alec and Bella’s story.
The next book, Dark Country – which features Kris Matthews, the local Dungirri police sergeant – will be out on 1st September, so it’s not too long to wait, now! I hope you enjoy it as much as As Darkness Falls.
Hi Bronwyn, Firstly I have to tell you I am the biggest fan of Nora Roberts EVER and have read everything I can get my hands on of her books, however I saw your book advertised in my Doubleday leaflet and decided it might be ok so ordered it. Imagine my surprise when it arrived and there on the cover were the words “If you are a Nora Roberts fan you will love this”. My immediate thought was..yeah right!! I started the book and was enthralled straight away and couldn’t put it down, so I have to tell you…Girl, you are right up there with Nora, it was fabulous. Now I hope you realize this is VERY high praise as to me every other Author pales in comparison to Nora. I only have one more thing to say to you and that’s…..GET WRITING, I will now expect at least a book every 3-6 months, can’t wait. Best Regards.
Hi Susan! Thanks for coming and for your wonderful comments. I’d love to be up there with Nora
I have a tremendous respect for her – her books, her leadership in the genre, her support and encouragement of other writers… and her work ethic! She’s inspirational in so many ways. However, I’m not up to her productivity standard of four novels a year, at least, not yet! I’ll work on it, though 
Thanks again for your lovely feedback on As Darkness Falls. I hope you find Dark Country as enjoyable!
Bronwyn I loved As Darkness Falls! I got a copy with my July copy of Notebook magazine, what a great holiday read. I couldn’t put it down and was up till all hours reading. I have just rediscovered the joy of reading, our kids are finally getting to the age I have a little time to my self. Can’t wait for Dark Country, what bookstores will it be available through please? Is your third book set in Dungirri as well?
Sophie, thank you for your lovely words! I’m sorry it kept you awake, though – I hope you felt good by the ending!
Dark Country should be available in all the main bookstores (Dymocks, A&R, Borders etc) and at least for the first few weeks in stores such as KMart and Target.
Yes, the plan is for the third book to be set in and around Dungirri, too; I’m currently writing it, so we’ll see how the plot evolves. Three books will be enough for Dungirri though; it’s only a small town, and can only take a certain amount of suspense and drama! I have ideas for a few of the characters, though, so their stories may continue elsewhere eventually.
Thank you again for visiting my website and for taking the time to comment. I hope you enjoy many more good books, now that your children are letting you have time to read!
[...] opening scene of my first romantic suspense novel, As Darkness Falls, was born in a short, vivid dream I had early one morning; a female detective, in an isolated area [...]
What a truely gripping tale: I also read the Readers Digest version and it was totaly mesmerizing from start to finish. I took up the book and couldn’t put it down until I had finished. Lucky I didn’t read the full version or things would have lapsed around here. Will have to go on holidays and read the next one in full.
Thanks for the tears and the joy.
Hi Bronwyn, The much anticipated Dark Country was easily as good as the first, I read it in one day and loved every minute of it…have you started another yet???? Please hurry I need to have a constant stream…ha ha. Cheers Susan.
Karen and Susan – my apologies for taking so long to reply! I had limited internet access while I was away. Karen, I’m glad you enjoyed the RD version – I’m glad you found it gripping, even though condensed! I know the RD editors take a lot of care in producing the condensed version. I hope you enjoy Dark Country, when you get to read it.
Susan, I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed Dark Country as much as ADF. Yes, I have started on the third book – Mark’s book – but unfortunately it won’t be out until September or October 2010. In the meantime, keep an eye out for Helene Young’s Border Watch, a gripping romantic suspense set in north Queensland, which will be published in April next year. I’ve read an advanced copy – and it’s great!
Hi Bronwyn,
Just thought you’d like to know I’m giving As Darkness Falls to my sister for Christmas. I’m sure she’ll love it.
All the best for Christmas and 2010.
Cheers,
Catherine
I finally got to read this – I bought it for myself for Christmas and got someone to wrap it up and give it to me (yes, I’m strange).
It was truly wonderful! In fact, I have a mountain of other books to read, but I just want to digest this story for a while longer. Then I’m going to reread Dark Country and I know it’s all going to mean so much more this time round.
What makes this series so great is that it is so Australian without feeling the need to resort to stereotypes. There need to be more authors like you – people who can capture our country and still tell a great story!
[...] Bronwyn Parry ~ AS DARKNESS FALLS [...]