It’s been five years since Lou Berney’s last novel, the multi-award-winning November Road. But, in Dark Ride, Berney’s themes are once again children in jeopardy and the unexpected anti-hero.

Hardy “Hardly” Reed is a weed-smoking, lost twenty-three-year-old who is somewhat stoned all the time. He’s in a dead-end job, working evenings at Haunted Frontier theme park, playing ghosts. He’s fine with that until the day he has to pay a ticket at the municipal building. He sees two children, a girl and a boy, sitting on a bench outside an office. They appear to be about six or seven. Even stoned, Hardly recognizes cigarette burn marks on both children. He does try to report that to Child Protection Services, but everyone brushes aside his concerns. How can they do anything if Hardly doesn’t have names?

Now, Hardly is obsessed. And, he realizes he’s the only one who can help the two children. He can’t even live his own life. How is he to help those two kids? After getting advice from a cougar realtor, Hardly decides to become an investigator. After he identifies the mother of the two kids, Hardly makes the mistake of hanging around their neighborhood. He’s threatened, but he won’t give up. Even when he’s attacked, Hardly won’t give up.

In the course of his investigation, Hardly makes several friends, smokes less weed, and starts to change. But, he finally realizes he might be the only one who can save those two children.

Berney’s once again written a heartbreaking book with an ambiguous ending. It’s no November Road. But, Hardly Reed is an unforgettable character, an anti-hero with an obsession that changes his life.

Lou Berney’s website is https://www.louberney.com/

Dark Ride by Lou Berney. William Morrow, 20123. ISBN 978006263863 (hardcover), 256p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through NetGalley to review for a journal.