Cheryl Honigford

It's 1938, and actress Vivian Witchell has just landed her first big role on a popular radio show called "The Darkness Knows." Although she has a privileged background and still lives with her mother, a leading light of Chicago society, Viv is determined to succeed in her chosen career. She knows showbiz can be cutthroat, and she doesn't shy away from competing with her fellow actresses, both for roles and for her handsome costar Graham Yarborough's attentions. But when a famous actress at show more the radio station is murdered, Viv learns that the business is even more dangerous than she knew -- especially when an anonymous letter hints that she might be the next victim. The police are immediately called to investigate the murder, but the station also calls private detective Charlie Haverman to protect Viv in case the murderer decides to strike again. Charlie wants Viv to stay away from the station and stay out of trouble, but of course Viv has other ideas. Can they unmask the murderer together before Viv or anyone else becomes the next victim?

I really enjoyed this book! The mystery, while not particularly innovative, was solid, and I loved the period setting. Viv is a clever, spunky heroine whose lively narrative voice is lots of fun to follow. I did find her somewhat annoying at times; like many amateur sleuths, she takes far too many risks and races into danger without thinking about the consequences. I also found her attitude toward wealth and privilege to be a bit confusing -- she insists she wants to make it on her own, but she doesn't mind enjoying the benefits that come from living with her rich mother. I hope the issue of social class will be explored a lot more in the sequel(s) that will hopefully follow this book. I also really liked Charlie, although his characterization as a tough, streetwise detective veers toward the stereotypical at times. The banter and chemistry between Viv and Charlie is a highlight of the novel, and I enjoyed their interactions more than the slow unraveling of the whodunit. Overall, if you like the premise of this novel, it's a very enjoyable debut, and I definitely look forward to continuing with the series. show less

Cheryl Honigford's first Viv and Charlie mystery brings to life the days of radio serials. As a child, my mother would sit with my grandmother in the dark listening to their favorite radio programs. My mother's was The Shadow Knows, which reminds me of the title of this book, so I was favorably inclined toward The Darkness Knows from the beginning. I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed.

As I've already said, Honigford added just the right amount of historical detail to put me right in show more the middle of the golden days of radio. Radio stars aren't any different from Hollywood stars. Those starting out in their careers are cutthroat when it comes to obtaining the right parts that will get them noticed and lead to fame and larger paychecks. Viv had to deal with this just as much as she had to deal with finding a killer.

This leads me to Viv's character. She's a likable enough person, but she's not the girl next door. She's ambitious. She's self-centered. A lot of the things she does in The Darkness Knows are publicity stunts aimed at furthering her career, and she does them cheerfully. Honigford does an excellent job walking a tightrope with Viv's characterization. Viv is nice... but not "too" nice. On the other hand, working class Charlie the private detective I thought was completely likable. If there was anything about these two characters that I really didn't care for, it was the amount of romance between them in the story. That's just not my thing, although I know I'm probably in the minority.

Even though I knew the bad guy from the start, I still enjoyed reading this first Viv and Charlie mystery. The period Chicago "radio days" detail drew me right in, and I enjoyed watching how long it took the others to figure out whodunit. Shame on me! show less

Ms. Honigford does a great job taking readers back to an era when the world stood on the cusp of recovery, advancements, and tragedy. My grandparents told me stories of these days and, with my current nostalgia phase, THE DARKNESS KNOWS was a pleasant evocation of those memories. That feeling and her mastery in portraying the era make for a very entertaining cozy. The beginnings of the noir period I so enjoy in books and movies.
There were, however, a few things that were disappointing. show more
Viv’s desire and determination to be a modern woman with a career were betrayed, for me, by the way she went about it. There wasn’t as much grit when it came right down to it. It wasn’t necessary for her survival and there were times it came across, for me, that she was doing this in defiance rather than a real resolve to be independent. Her modernity didn’t extend far enough in some instances while going a tad too far in others. Her role in the mystery, while central, had very little to do with its resolution, and one of the most important facets never even occurred to her until much later than it should have.
THE DARKNESS KNOWS was a pleasant read, but I’m on the fence as to whether I’ll read the next one.
Reviewed for Novels Alive TV and Miss Ivy’s Book Nook Take II show less

It’s 1938 in Chicago, and Vivian works at a radio station. After a couple of years as a secretary, she is finally cast as a radio actress in a drama. But all too soon, life mimics art, and Vivian finds herself enmeshed in a real murder mystery. The station’s boss hires a private detective to protect Vivian, but she wants to find the killer. Vivian works well with Charlie, the private eye, and the inevitable attraction develops. Well-developed characters in an equally intersting plot show more coupled with the setting makes for an enjoyable read. Great start to a new series. show less