The Dark Side: A Novel

The Dark Side goes in a direction that is not a route Danielle Steel goes with her books. Zoe has a difficult childhood where her younger sister ends up dying from leukemia and during the time of the progression of the illness Zoe is ignored and left to her ownmost of the time. Even after her sister's death the parents excess in their own worlds and Zoe is left in the cold. Zoe grows up in her own world, few friends and pushes herself for high achievement in all she does. She meets Austin and falls in love, gets married and they have a child, their daughter, Jaime. Things start changing as Jaime grows. Jaime seems very accident prone and seems to have a lot of illnesses. As time goes on Austin gets suspicious but its his mother who puts name to the condition and the darkness starts coming together for Jaimie, Austin, and Zoe. The story is intense and once you start reading it, you will not want to put it down. Very different storyline for Danielle Steel.

Avid reader, read every single DS book, no matter what the reviews. This book is just the worst. It is so depressing from chapter 1 thru the end. Nothing to feel good about. No one to like. Just awful. If it’s pouring rain and your already depressed, might be a good read for you.

Do not waste your money. I have been a ds lover forever. For the last several yrs only check them out at library not wanting to spend money on her last few yrs of sub par bks. But I hate to give up...so in needing a read downloaded this one! So bad! Same words used over and over....filling space...rehashing what you already read! Just a bunch of superficial words...no real story!!! If you are like I am, and cant give up hoping for the old spark of ds check this out at the library but dont spend $$$ on it!

THE DARK SIDE is the latest novel from Danielle Steel and is a classic love story with a major twist. While out of character from what we typically expect when picking up Ms. Steel, her take on a modern day psychological thriller is not to be missed!Zoe Morgan comes into the story as a young girl who suffers a stilted childhood because of a devastating illness her little sister goes through. Her family is never the same again, and the scars it leaves on her into adulthood are obvious, but also deceptive. No one looks at her and sees pain ... but distortion is the new normal as we traverse a life of success, leading to love and eventual motherhood. She wants to be all that she didn't get in her own life for her daughter ... but she ends up being more than we ever expected.I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a pivotal plot change in a romance/psychological thriller. There was a slight disconnect in emotion with this story compared to others by the author, but the suspense more than made up for it. Great story, great twists and a very satisfying read!

As a former practicing psychologist, I found this novel well-written and the characters well-developed. However, this is a dark story, there is no question about that. I felt in so many ways as if I was reading a case study of a very disturbed young woman, which I was. This is not the escape reading that I expected from this author. This does not however, make this a bad book or even a weak book. I read it through rather quickly, had great sympathy for some of the characters, and the ending was sad but not unexpected. Just don't expect this to be her typical story and happy ending.

This book was the first in a very long time that I read in one sitting...I could not put it down!! Page-turner is putting it mildly, I literally fell in to this book and did t want to come back out until I was finished. It went places I didn’t expect...so for all you nnay-sayers that say Danielle Steel repeats herself you have no idea...pick this one up you;l be pleasantly surprised.

As most Danielle Steele books last few years have been very light reading almost phoned in, this well researched and well fleshed out story was a good surprise. I just wish it would have had an epilogue.

Couldn't put it down. Read it in 2 days. Story about Munchausen By Proxy. A Terrible disease with no therapy thAt works.

Generally I read an authors books in order but having read a fair few in my younger years I made an exception and brought this book which was at the time on a Kindle deal. I’d seen a friend had recently read a Danielle Steel book finally, after repeatedly recommending her novels as knew she’d love them, but it also prompted me to read one and fall down the Danielle Steel hole of memories.I’m so glad I did though as it was everything I remember. However, it also means I now want to go back to the last one I read and make my way through the rest.The first thing I love about her novels, is her no nonsense attitude to back story. She gets it all out there in the first chapter so the real nitty gritty chapters can begin. Daniele Steel’s writing hadn’t changed in the last 30 years. It’s easy reading which is the second thing I love about her books.The uncovered theme of this book was really good and one I’ve had an interest in before. It’s a great story and has everything you’d expect from a psychological thriller.Third, her novels are always well researched which comes across through her writing. They are seem less. You know what you’re reading will be accurate which in turn cement’s a great story.Fourth, her characterisation is marvellous and each are well developed. I really felt the plight of not only the main characters but the secondary ones too. They are really well formed which propels the story forward hooking you into needing to know how the book will finish.Finally it has the same elements you’d expect with a psychological thriller, and also a mysterious feel to it. A character driven thriller is always a great one in my opinion.Overall a very enjoyable novel from a past favourite author. I look forward to reading her other publications.

I have read many Danielle Steele books. She is good at picking interesting stories and powerful characters. This story is good, tragic and complex. But Danielle did not make the best of it. In her more recent books she tends to fill pages with repetitions, saying the same thing over and over again, and this book is more than half of that. The writing is not great. The story comes together over just a couple or chapters and stops awkwardly. A good story spoilt.

I have been reading Danielle Steel s books since my twenties. I always enjoy Danielle Steels books. I like the fact that she covers a different topic. And this one did not disappoint. Very unusual . 5 stars *****

I loved this book it was different to Danielle s other books which can seem a bit similar even to a fan like me!. I liked the story and read it in a really. short time as I couldn't put it down. Brilliant

Absolutely terrible.The most simply written and dull book I have ever read.I would have thought a 14 year old could have written this.The book lacks pace, it is repetitive and I felt is generally lacked the basic understanding of MBP!The book ended quickly, with a rushed attempt to explain what actually happened!Awful. I do not recommend.