Title: After Dark

Author: Jayne Cowie

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 1st April 2022

Rating: 4.5/5

Cover:

Summary:

WELCOME TO A WORLD WHERE WOMEN HOLD THE POWER.

They dominate workplaces, public spaces and government.

They are no longer afraid to cross a dark car park, catch the last train, or walk home alone.

With the Curfew law in place, all men are electronically tagged and must stay at home after 7pm.

It changed things for the better. Until now.

A woman is murdered late at night and evidence suggests she knew her attacker.

It couldn’t have been a man because a Curfew tag is a solid alibi… Isn’t it?

Review:

I was so intrigued by the premise of After Dark, a world set in the not too distant future where women hold the power in society and men are forced under a curfew to protect women from male violence. It’s a tempting thought, I have to confess I would certainly feel safer walking at night if men weren’t allowed on the streets. However, as with any radical concept, there are serious consequences and questions surrounding the morality. Nothing here is easy or simple to try and formulate an opinion on and I loved how many questions and quandaries After Dark placed in my mind.

There is a compelling mystery at play in this story when a woman is found violently murdered and it develops brilliantly. I was completely taken in by the women who narrate After Dark. Each of them have different perspectives on this new world order which made for fascinating reading. After Dark is part thriller and part speculative social commentary that feels weirdly prescient in terms of what has been happening in the world for the past couple of years. This is a smart and complex book that cannot fail to provoke a timely discussion and debate and it is a one I would highly recommend.

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Thank you to Laura at Penguin for inviting me on the blog tour and for the lovely proof copy. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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