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Jon Evans
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Dark Places (Dark Places Of The Earth Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Jon Evans (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 247 ratings
An acclaimed, award-winning thriller, published and translated around the world.

Paul Wood is a modern vagabond, a man who chooses to leave the comforts of San Francisco to spend months backpacking through some of the world's most challenging terrain. While hiking in the Himalayas, Paul gets more of a rush than he bargained for when he finds the body of a murdered hiker - mutilated in a way he has witnessed once before, in Africa, years ago and thousands of miles away.

The police in Nepal, anxious to quell a scandal, close the case and declare the victim a suicide. Only Paul is left to search for answers. He reaches out to his farflung tribe of fellow backpackers for help, and his discoveries lead him to a terrible conclusion: a killer is stalking the international backpacker trail, preying on victims in wild places far beyond the reach of any authorities. A killer whom Paul may already know.

Finding the murderer becomes an obsession that leads Paul from Himalayan peaks, through the jungles of Indonesia, across the bleak Sahara desert -- and into some of the darkest places imaginable...

Dark Places won the 2005 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Dark Places Of The Earth
  2. Print length
    338 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    1 April 2004
  6. File size
    686 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

In this haunting, suspense debut, Evans takes the reader on a page-turning adventure (Publishers Weekly)

A taut thriller . . . He keeps you guessing and leaves you with the uncomfortable realisation of just how plausible all this could be. A real page-turner (Ms London)

An original two-way hunt with moments of real suspense scattered across the wildest reaches of the planet (Hector Macdonald)

TRAIL OF THE DEAD is engaging, disturbing, and relentless - an impressive debut novel. (C.J. Box, award-winning author of WINTERKILL and TROPHY HUNT)

TRAIL OF THE DEAD is engaging, disturbing, and relentless - an impressive debut novel. (C.J. Box, award-winning author of WINTERKILL)

I was completely gripped. As the plot unfolded, I found myself constantly surprised. Jon Evans's plotting is excellent, and he has obviously travelled widely - all the details are clearly authentic and I found myself interested in the locations as much as the plot. The internet aspect of the story was intriguing, and at the end all the strands were tied up perfectly. I never wanted to put the book down, and I was almost glad I was ill, so I had the chance to read it quickly. (Emily Barr)

You're hooked. Evans contrives to slip the necessary specialist net-head detail into the plot without being boring or patronising. He can also pin down a character with a few details deftly brushed in. . . The characters are delightfully delineated by their speech patterns. . . beautifully controlled. . . Not the least satisfying aspect of this pacy thriller for the 21st century is the way things go on happening until the last page. (The Times)

'A clever interesting read that you can take your time over. One can only hope that this, the first novel by Jon Evans, is not the last.' - (Bolton Evening News)

I was completely gripped. As the plot unfolded, I found myself constantly surprised. Jon Evans's plotting is excellent, and he has obviously travelled widely - all the details are clearly authentic and I found myself interested in the locations as much as the plot. The internet aspect of the story was intriguing, and at the end all the strands were tied up perfectly. I never wanted to put the book down. (Emily Barr)

You're hooked. Evans contrives to slip the necessary specialist net-head detail into the plot without being boring or patronising. He can also pin down a character with a few details deftly brushed in. . . The characters are delightfully delineated by their speech patterns . . . beautifully controlled . . . Not the least satisfying aspect of this pacy thriller for the 21st century is the way things go on happening until the last page. (The Times)

This is a stunning debut novel from a thriller writer to watch . . . a breathtaking thriller (Western Daily Press)

From the Publisher

Jon Evans is an amazing and original writer, finding the weaknesses in the modern world for evil to creep in. His plots are scary plausible.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008I6JUG8
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 April 2004
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 686 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 338 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060594237
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Dark Places Of The Earth
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 247 ratings

About the author

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Jon Evans

Jon Evans

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My thriller DARK PLACES won an Arthur Ellis Award; my Vertigo Crime graphic novel THE EXECUTOR was nominated for a Spinetingler Award, and appeared on several best-of-the-year-lists; my very unusual fantasy novel BEASTS OF NEW YORK won a ForeWord Book of the Year award, and seems to have acquired a small but devoted cult following. In addition to writing novels, I'm also a journalist who has traveled to more than 100 countries, and reported from Iraq, Haiti, Colombia, and the Congo; the CTO of the software consultancy HappyFunCorp, and the initial technical architect of bookshop.org; and the founding director of the GitHub Archive Program, preserving the world's open-source software in Oxford's Bodleian Library, Egypt's Library of Alexandria, and a permafrost vault beneath an Arctic mountain, for 1,000 years. (Yes, really.)

For some reason it is semi-obligatory for writers to count how many languages our work has been translated to. (Some of the more daring among us may even end a sentence with a preposition while doing so.) Thirteen, since you insist.

For far, for more about me than you probably ever wanted to know, see my web site rezendi.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
247 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot mysterious and frightening with many shocking twists. Moreover, the writing quality is well-received, with one customer noting it doesn't make them wince, and the main character is easy to like. Additionally, customers describe the pacing as quite different, and one customer particularly appreciates the beautiful backdrop of international locations.

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20 customers mention ‘Plot’20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the plot of the book, describing it as mysterious and frightening with many shocking twists.

"...I actually care about and believe in, and a pretty unique tale about backpackers and serial killers, with a believable, human outcome, and which does..." Read more

"...'wow' moments and the final satisfaction that I'd really enjoyed a good read." Read more

"...The plot is mysterious and frightening, and I found it shocking that a character could get away with so much in Third World Countries...." Read more

"...This book offered me just that! So from this point of view, I like the book very much. But in terms of the plot it is average!..." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Writing quality’9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, finding it well-crafted with good grammar.

"...written, well crafted and pacey story, with grammar and spelling that doesn't make me wince, characters I actually care about and believe in, and a..." Read more

"...really my thing but the main character is easy to like and it is so well written you care what happens...." Read more

"...Well-written, nicely paced and with an original plot - what more could you want?" Read more

"...There were a couple of minor typos, but it was grammatically correct, which was welcome after some of the Kindle books I have read." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Character development’6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding the main character easy to like and quite human.

"...with grammar and spelling that doesn't make me wince, characters I actually care about and believe in, and a pretty unique tale about backpackers..." Read more

"...serial killing - none of which are really my thing but the main character is easy to like and it is so well written you care what happens...." Read more

"...and backpacked in other parts of the world I found it very easy to engage with the characters and the places described...." Read more

"...The lead character is very likeable, partly because he is NOT a brave, swashbuckling hero, but truly human...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book exciting and engaging, with one mentioning how it draws readers into the backpacker world.

"...It evolves as you read on and keeps you interested throughout. Recommended." Read more

"...There was tension, excitement and various 'wow' moments and the final satisfaction that I'd really enjoyed a good read." Read more

"...Anyway, this book was a fun and quick read, and over so soon because I could not put it down!..." Read more

"I enjoyed this book it was different. It was exciting and kept you enthralled .would like to read more from Jon Evans." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Pacing’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, finding it quite different and clever.

"...I found it clever and with many shocking twists, set against a beautiful backdrop of international locations." Read more

"Very original story line - quite different and had me gripped from the beginning - I would definitely recommend and made me get some more books from..." Read more

"I enjoyed this book it was different. It was exciting and kept you enthralled .would like to read more from Jon Evans." Read more

"Unique and fantastic..." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Description’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the descriptions in the book, with one customer particularly praising the beautiful backdrop of international locations.

"...I was absolutely blown away by the descriptions of the places and liked the main character enough to start muttering and rolling my eyes when he..." Read more

"...Or rather, settings. Locations are described beautifully and may make you wish to travel further...." Read more

"...n't had the good fortune to travel to the places described I enjoyed the descriptions...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Divided Self
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mrs Peril
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 October 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I picked this up for free and it's been on my Kindle for a few months - I wish I'd got round to reading it sooner, because once I started, it was utterly compelling and I needed to know what happened next, right up until the end. I'm sorry in a way to have finished it and my only criticism is that I wish it had been longer.

    Finally, a well-written, well crafted and pacey story, with grammar and spelling that doesn't make me wince, characters I actually care about and believe in, and a pretty unique tale about backpackers and serial killers, with a believable, human outcome, and which doesn't take the reader for an idiot.

    So many free kindle books are so bigged-up by shill reviewers, when in reality the plots are holey, unbelievable, full of one-dimensional characters, and are seemingly by 'writers' with only a rudimentary grasp of the English language...so this was an extremely pleasant surprise!

    I will look around for other books by this author and have no hesitation in recommending Dark Places.
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  • cherryred
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 August 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is not a story I would have expected to like. It's about backpacking, computers and serial killing - none of which are really my thing but the main character is easy to like and it is so well written you care what happens. I found I wanted to know what was going to happen next. It evolves as you read on and keeps you interested throughout. Recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • LDC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 July 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Not my type of book yet I read it in one go. Not my interests, (backpacking, computer genius, no not me) yet I was barely noticing the passing of time, what I was eating, what room I was in as I continued my all out reading attempt to find out first who and then why. I was absolutely blown away by the descriptions of the places and liked the main character enough to start muttering and rolling my eyes when he took the actions he did take instead of running and hiding like the rest of us would have done. I wanted him safe but understood his curiosity because I had it too. There was tension, excitement and various 'wow' moments and the final satisfaction that I'd really enjoyed a good read.
    Helpful
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  • Rhinos Are Cool
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Travel Adventure
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 August 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I read that this book used to be called Trail of the Dead, and I have to say that would be a far better title. Anyway, this book was a fun and quick read, and over so soon because I could not put it down!

    The plot is mysterious and frightening, and I found it shocking that a character could get away with so much in Third World Countries.

    But what sets this apart from other murder mysteries is the setting. Or rather, settings. Locations are described beautifully and may make you wish to travel further. I already love to travel, and am itching to experience similar locations of natural beauty. Hopefully with no nasty surprises!

    To conclude, this is a fantastic book, which had me hooked from the very beginning. I found it clever and with many shocking twists, set against a beautiful backdrop of international locations.
    Helpful
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  • Dongli Hur
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    There are so many books being written. I tend to read books that I can learn something from, May it be knowledge or author's experience s in life! This book offered me just that! So from this point of view, I like the book very much. But in terms of the plot it is average! One of another murder plots.
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  • Ghengiz Jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compulsive read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The story hooked me with the first line and kept me gripped the whole way - and I loved the last line of the book.
    As someone who's walked the Annapurna circuit and backpacked in other parts of the world I found it very easy to engage with the characters and the places described.
    Well-written, nicely paced and with an original plot - what more could you want?
    One person found this helpful
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  • Lyn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Very original story line - quite different and had me gripped from the beginning - I would definitely recommend and made me get some more books from same author.
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  • J j b.
    5.0 out of 5 stars exciting to the end.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book it was different. It was exciting and kept you enthralled .would like to read more from Jon Evans.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant.
    Reviewed in Australia on 23 January 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I cant remember the last book I enjoyed as much as this.Sordid, brutal and hard to believe. The author opened the door to another, albeit unimaginable world of horror. Well written and captivating in its hold over me to finish in one sitting..
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  • Elaina J Davidson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralled!
    Reviewed in the United States on 18 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Well, WOW! This story took me, shook me and enthralled me from the first page to the last!

    Clearly the author has either travelled extensively, for we go from Nepal to California to Indonesia to London to Africa and more, accompanied by vivid descriptions, or he is brilliant at research. Then to weave in murder and mayhem across continents? Amazing.

    Although this is set in the year 2000 and employs the technology from the time to find the killer and is therefore out of date (tech-wise), I found the sleuthing wonderful. At the time, that was how it was done, after all, but it did make me smile a bit, considering how far technology has come since then.

    However, tech and investigation and murder were not the main focus, not for me. I love the places we are taken to, to experience how it is to suffer a monsoon as if we are there, or to breathe with difficulty in the Himalayas. The sweating jungles of Africa, as well as the colours. And so much more.

    The story is excellent too, of course! DEFINITELY worth reading.
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  • Jen Adams
    4.0 out of 5 stars Solid mystery; great for travelers
    Reviewed in the United States on 13 March 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Most books disappoint ... this book delivers. Evans has created a world-wide thriller with a deep web of mystery that still seems believable. You can see something like this happening, which makes it easier to connect with the main character and his big problem - how do you stop a serial killer who is smart, vicious, and onto you?

    Maybe the prose could have been tighter in places. Maybe you'll wish it had ended differently for our villain's precious "Bull" support group. But if you like traveling to far off places ... if you suspect things go on "out there" that never get solved ... and if you like a good story with a fresh plot ... then you will definitely not regret buying this book.
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  • Amazon Customer
    1.0 out of 5 stars Spannend
    Reviewed in Germany on 25 July 2005
    Verified Purchase
    ist das Buch ja. Der Leser erfährt auch noch einiges über das Internet und welche Spuren er bei dessen Nutzung hinterlässt.
    Es gibt auch eine interessente Wendung in der Story. Doch insgesamt ist diese leider unlogisch und hält einfachen Fragen nicht Stand.
    Das Lesen dieses Buches entspricht dem Lesen des Magazins "Der Spiegel". Während des Lesens fühlt man sich gut unterhalten. Nach dem Lesen fragt man sich, warum man jetzt wieder ein Teil seines Lebens verschwendet hat.
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  • Bill
    3.0 out of 5 stars A nice, mostly comfortable read.
    Reviewed in the United States on 25 April 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Dark Places (Dark Places Of The Earth) [Kindle Edition], by Jon Evans, kept me hanging on. It was a good story, not especially fast moving but with much about exotic places I had never heard of and some interesting characters that were developed nicely. And the story itself developed in a linear fashion. The protagonists were likable and, as a mystery should, one thing led to another, and such. But, and although I read the entire story, it was ruined for me when something way beyond possible, in my opinion, occurred. After that the story proceeded reasonably well and I was determined to be happy with it, but, the unusual happened again. I don't provide spoilers so I won't tell, however, I still enjoyed the read, just not as much as I might have.
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