The Dark Room

I read this book when it first came out in the mid 90's and images it evoked are still with me today more than 20 years later. Walters can write characters that are so well drawn they become indelible images of people known and touched even so briefly through her novels. Images of Jinx working in her studio still visit me when I think of rock groups. Images of the 'home' in which she awoke come to mind when modern facilities are mentioned in passing conversations. I found The Ice House to carry forward in my memory with the same intensity. The description of three women caring for and remodeling their home inspired me to follow in their footsteps so much so that I will be tearing my dishwasher apart later today. More than 20 years show more success with similar projects all started with Minette Walters ability to present characters who have touched my heart. show less

In The Dark Room, by Minette Walters, photographer Jinx Kingsley wakes up in a private hospital from a week-long coma, only to learn that about a month before the wedding, her fiance had left her for her best friend and that she, Jinx, had apparently attempted suicide, presumably in response. Jinx can't remember what actually happened, but she's quite sure that she's not upset about the behaviour of her erstwhile fiance - indeed, she's relieved - and that she's not really the sort of person who would attempt suicide anyway. She enlists the aid of Dr. Alan Protheroe, the head of the private clinic where she is recovering from her injuries, in order to try to piece together what went on over the previous several weeks of her life, weeks show more that now seem to be missing.... Walters is a master of psychological suspense, and this novel provides yet more proof of that fact. She embues her characters with real humanity, both in good and bad aspects, and as a result her characters always feel quite real to the reader. At the same time, she teases the reader with snippets of information to help unravel the mystery at the heart of the story, and she always plays fair with the reader in terms of clues. In short, lots of fun to read; recommended! show less

Minette Walters is a very talented author, and her psychological thrillers cannot be beat for sheer terror and for audacity. She thinks nothing of leaving her readers way out in cold exploring motives and means, and then brings in the murderer somewhere from out in left field. This book is like that in spades. The characters in this book are truly intriguing. First there is Jinx Kingsley. She appears to be a suicide survivor with amnesia who has a reason and the wherewithal to kill. Then there is her father Adam who everyone knows is connected and would stoop at nothing to help those he loves. Jinx has two wastrel brothers who could be in the frame as well. I love the way these characters are developed, and the way that I learned to show more care for Jinx and to hope for the best for her when and if her memory ever came back. These books explore the darkest corners of the mind and I just can't stop turning pages. show less

Una signora del giallo, questa Minette Walters che non conoscevo. Ultimamente tenermi avvinta con un giallo non è facile, mi imbatto sempre in trame banalissime e soprattutto lente. Questo romanzo, invece, è una sorta di giallo psicologico, niente di originale per carità ma è ben condotto e l'autrice è abile a mischiare le carte. Aiutandosi con un espediente narrativo dejà vu, cioè una amnesia transitoria della protagonista. Ma insomma, il suo scopo è intrattenere e lo fa bene.

Jinx. Jane Kingsley, heir and photographer, has no memory of a terrible accident that almost killed her. She apparently drove her car into a large concrete wall after being jilted by her fiance.

After waking from a coma, Jinx finds herself in a private clinic. She has been told she is only there to recover from her physical wounds, and any mental work is up to her. She nevertheless gets to know the chief doctor, Dr. Alan Protheroe, through somewhat casual conversations. She resists baring her soul but has no trouble saying she rejected her fiance before he rejected her, so why would she try to kill herself?

The question is a good one. Not everyone believes she actually lost her memory, however, or that she did not attempt suicide. She is show more plagued by thoughts of her father, an influential person in the community, who is paying for the private clinic. What is his role in this? Why has he not even visited her?

She turns to longtime friends while continuing to converse with Alan Protheroe, whom she at times resents. She does not like to bare her soul. She is stronger than most people think and prefers to keep to herself.

Thus I believe she lives in a dark room of her own, apart from her photography, until the truth becomes clear. It's not an easy journey. show less

It's an enthralling story from the first page until the very last one. Jane is suffering from an amnesia after an assumed suicide attempt. She is staying at a privat clinic whereas outside the incidents are in a turmoil. The police is believing that Jane is responsible for all murders which have taken place in the long and short past and they are trying hard to find enough evidences to convict Jane for all those dark doings. While Jane's doctor is trying to protect her from everybody she runs into mischief because she is trusting in her own kinship and those of her friends and can't see the danger.
It also kept me guessing until the very end if Jane would find her new love in her doctor.

A sometimes irritating novel, although I kept on reading to the end. The story revolves around Jinx, the daughter of a rich family that may or may not be dis functional, I kept flitting between the two. There are many questions and they are all answered at the end by something that appears out of the blue. Some of the conversation is stilted but a diverting enough read.