Too Dark To Sleep

TOO DARK TO SLEEP by Dianne Gallagher is an exciting psychological Thriller/suspense set in Chicago. Follow Maggie Quinn,on a hair-raising journey of danger,grief,the loss of a child,loss of a job,suspense,mystery,a string of murders,and a darkness she may never overcome. In the blink of an eye she losses everything she once held dear. Once the top Chicago Violent Crimes detective now she is just trying to save off the darkness that is threatening to overtake her. But can she find a murderer before it is too late,is all she thinks she knows just a dream or a witness' foggy memory? "Too Dark to Sleep" is a high octane,fast paced,action filled psychological thriller that will grip you from the very first page and hold you there until the last and longer. A must read! A page turner. If you enjoy psychological thrillers,suspense,danger around every corner,police procedures,than you will enjoy "Too Dark To Sleep". Avid crime fiction readers will adore this story. I can hardly wait for the next installment of Maggie Quinn. I would highly recommend this title. Ms. Gallagher is a great storyteller,her characters engaging,believable,and the plot intriguing. Written with vivid descriptions. BE WARNED: highly dangerous to the mind,it is a thriller from beginning to the end,with twists and turns you won't see coming until to late.Received for an honest review from the author. RATING: 4.5 HEAT RATING: Mild: Mild detailed scenes of intimacy,mild violence or profanity. REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers Favorite One-time crackerjack Chicago police detective, Maggie Quinn, is on permanent leave from the force and is plagued by nightmares. She dreams that she discovers the body of a young woman who has been strangled and her torso sliced. In this same dream, a man in a blue jacket throws Maggie to the ground in a nearby alley as she reaches out to catch him. Maggie is watched over day and night by Antoine Rayney, a no-nonsense male nurse, hired by Maggie's father, Patrick, a powerful man with strong Chicago mob connections who is serving a life sentence in Joliet prison but is still protected and helped by the "Outfit". Maggie's little daughter Erin died two years ago after a botched cardiac surgery and Maggie's attempt at slashing her arms after this sent her to a psychiatric hospital. Estranged, unfaithful husband Richard Freedman bribes people as he hopes to grow rich from divorcing Maggie.  Maggie has good friends in the Chicago Police Department and Captain Tierney hires her as a consultant to work with new police Detective Nick Dublowski, as they investigate who might be the serial killer who is strangling young women, slicing their torsos, and stealing their jewelry. Will Maggie and Nick succeed in finding the killer? "Too Dark to Sleep" is a brilliant, well-written novel of how police can sometimes fail in their efforts to catch a bright killer who has money and connections. Maggie Quinn is an incredible main character, multifaceted and strong despite setback after setback. Her partner, Detective Nick Dublowski, and her friends, Antoine Rayney, Medical Examiner Harley, Captain Tierney and all the other characters are all well-developed. This riveting story tells of Maggie's battles with a brilliant "bad guy" and with the darkness that threatens her after her breakdown. The suspense in this story is first-rate from its opening pages to the story's conclusion and makes "Too Dark to Sleep" a spine-tingling book that readers everywhere will adore.

I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of interesting plot twists and the characters were really unforgettable. Maggie Quinn was believable as a person with flaws who was a more than capable detective. It was hard to put the book down. I would recommend Too Dark to Sleep to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller. Definitely worth it.

VERDICT: A stunning new voice in psychological thrillers. An amazing battle of the brains you are not going to forget. The author was unknown to me. I met her at Chicago Printers Row Lit Festival, she chatted briefly to me about her book, Too Dark To Sleep. The synopsis sounded really good, so she graciously offered a review copy. I am so happy I stopped by her booth! Detective Maggie Quinn lives in Chicago – this was neat for me to recognize local landmarks. Before her young daughter died, she was working on cases of strangulation that seemed to be the deed of a serial killer. But the death of Erin was a major trauma for Maggie. She had to stop working for a year, struggling to find back her will to live and her sanity. She is slowly recovering, except for one major obsession of the dark. Darkness provokes hallucinations, nightmares, and paralyzing anxiety attacks. As another case of strangulation emerges, Maggie is asked to help her former colleagues. At the beginning, chapters alternate between her’s and the killer’s perspective. As a matter of fact, both Maggie and the reader identify quite quickly who the culprit is. The suspense is not on the who, but on if, how, and when Maggie will manage to find the necessary evidence to arrest the serial killer. Meanwhile, victims multiply… This amazing suspense is enriched by the background, with the world of detectives, of what’s going on between different police forces, as well as the back wings of prisons: Maggie’s dad has actually been a prisoner at Joliet. He is doing quite well there, at the head of a major black market deal, with close connections with the Outfit, as the mafia is called in Chicago. There’s also a lot on the dynamics between lawyers. Justice does not work as nicely as one would imagine or hope! Besides, there are very real passages about inner struggles and turmoil one faces after a major ordeal. And the descriptions of her fear of darkness are incredible. If you suffer from something similar, this is definitely not a book you want to read in the evening! Maggie is excellent at her job, with her great ability at paying attention to every detail surrounding her. But the killer is also super smart, which makes for a very enjoyable read, as you witness this amazing battle of the brains. Now please, can we have more adventures with Maggie?

I truly had to keep reading this book. Though long, I loved the story of Maggie and her fears as she solves crimes. The author deveops the characters well until the end. Loved it!

Truly enjoyed this detective/pyschological thriller set in Chicago and introducing the new detective, Maggie Quinn. The plot has plenty of twists and turns and kept me reading and on the edge of my seat right until the final chapter. I am looking forward to the next book!

Set in Chicago, Gallagher dishes the corruption about which, those of us who actually live here and care, drop our heads in shame. Maggie Quinn, fractured former detective, struggles with her inner and the outer demons which causes the reader to race to discover the finale. The description of Quinn's inner demons as well as the supposed serial killer darkly enraptured me. I did not want to leave their life stories by placing the book down. Gallagher's diction pulls the reader into Maggie's world and does not release. For this reason, thank goodness there will be another book.

Solid, good read and also cinematic for me. Original protagonist, Maggie Quinn, would make a really interesting role for a mature actress looking for meaty bone to chew on after having had their fill of ingenue appetizers. Surprises for the reader and earnest danger for the main characters.  If you like a character-driven thriller with great dialogue and telling detail in the policework then you're in for a treat with this one.

Good, gritty fun that gives the likes of Mickey Spillane a run for his money. Yet, for all it's familiar feel and revisiting many of the classic pulp crime story topes, it still feels fresh and relevant. All that, and it has surprising depth and heart. A smart story and thoroughly enjoyable read that grabs you from the get-go and doesn't let go. Looking forward to reading the next Maggie Quinn novel!