Allison Karras

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

My Summary: Sam may seem like an average teenage girl, but she's hiding a horrible secret - she knows who's behind the murders in her new town.

But instead of telling the police, Sam keeps this knowledge to herself; not because she's scarred, but because she knows they won't be able to help. Because if there's one thing Sam knows, it's this: the only person who can stop the force behind these horrible crimes is her, because she is the reason they are being committed. But now her cousin Terry is being accused of the murders, and Sam knows she has to end things soon, before her cousin's life is put at risk.

My Thoughts: This was a very interesting book, and the premise definitely got me hooked and wanting to read it!

I really love murder mysteries, and this one was really enjoyable, although I was hoping for a little romance along with the murder-mystery.

I was really surprised that the author managed to write a great plot and interesting characters into such a short amount of pages! Usually in that limited amount of pages you would expect the story to feel rushed, but the pace of this one was steady and easy to follow.

Final Thoughts: I can't say much more without giving away a big chunk of the story, but I recommend you check out Drowning in the Dark if you're in the mood for a murder-mystery that's not too long but still a good read!… (mehr)

Allison Karras debut novel was a gruesome and horrifying experience. Sam is a innocent girl with a very dangerous and terrifying job. To watch this young girl tring to protect the world is terrifying. Drowning in the Dark is not your typical heroic young girl kicking butt and taking names, but rather a child struggling to destroy things that go bump in the night. As a reader I seem to struggle with Zombies as not being plausable in their storylines, but in this incredibly short story they were no problem at all. It is effortless to follow Sam and Terry through the pages of this story. I believe the simplicity comes from the detailed Demon/Zombie theory. Although, I was mildly uncertain of the Samantha and Terry relationship throughout the story. It appears as though the interest of these two characters carries further than brotherly or sisterly. I understand from the start Sam declares the relation is not blood, but this still seemed somewhat odd. The conclusion offers a fresh new twist that left me with more questions than answers. The future of Samantha, Terry, and Shane is wide open, and I am anxious to see what this author has instore. Karras debut novel is a wonderful display of her talent that promises more to come.--… (mehr)

Drowning in the Dark is a quick, easily read suitable for younger readers who hunger for zombie tales. The depiction isn't terribly horrifying so not likely to frighten YA audience. Runs in a similar vein as Buffy the Vampire Slayer stories, only the demons that need slaying are zombies, not blood sucking vampires. Outfitted in a purple raincoat (this is the pacific northwest after all), Sam battles the supernatural with the help of a baseball bat and a guardian angel. Being a previous resident of Portland and now a loyal Seattlite makes me biased to the setting of the story. There must be something about our dreary weather that attracts the supernatural. Thankfully, no malevolent being sparkles in this book. It stays true to the standards of zombies and graveyards that purists will appreciate.… (mehr)