HomeCrime FictionThe risk of darkness

Cover of The risk of darkness

Crime Fiction · 2009 · R

The risk of darkness

by Susan Hill

A serial killer is moving. Serrailler is trying to get ahead of a pattern that won't stay still.

For17+GenreCrime FictionLength378 pagesRead time~9.5 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

A lot

A serial killer targeting children; multiple disappearances; harrowing content

Language

Some

Mild language

Sexual Content

Barely any

Mild content

Substance Use

Barely any

Mild content

Emotional Intensity

Very heavy

The psychology of a serial predator who has been operating for years before the pattern becomes visible; Serrailler's professional determination in the face of an investigation that makes personal demands

What this book is about

A series of child disappearances across the country suggests a serial killer with a specific method and victim type. DCS Simon Serrailler is drawn into a wider investigation while managing local cases that may or may not be connected. Susan Hill's third Serrailler novel is the most thriller-driven of the early series — the serial killer investigation spans geography and timelines — and deals with the specific difficulty of an investigation where the pattern is only visible in retrospect. Serrailler's private life continues to develop, and his complex relationship with his family runs parallel to the investigation.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

third Simon Serrailler novel

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