While the majority of our club felt that this book was a slow start, the non-linear time line was definitely confusing to some, which made for a rather interesting discussion. There was agreement among members that the author used overly abundant verbiage to the detriment of the story at times, which seemed to add to the confusion. While the premise of the story was interesting, there were differing opinions on the true nature and meaning of the competition, almost as if the competition meant different things to each individual. There was definite agreement that this book was more for a post-Harry Potter group.

While brilliantly written, Dark Places is an incredibly dark story. The descriptions are vivid, yet often times the reader is left wondering if the author actually views society as being so self-centered and self-absorbed, or sociopaths. Overall, I found this book to be unbelievably depressing.