Review: Dark Warning by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

Book: Dark Warning
Author: Marie- Louise Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Orion Books ( www.orionbooks.co.uk )
Pages: 248 pages
Obtained copy from library

Dark Warning is a great read from author Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick. From page one I was intrigued by protagonist Taney Tyrell. Taney is a young girl growing up in Dublin in the late 1700's. Taney from a young age noticed she was different. She saw things before they happened, she has the gift of second sight.

Taney doesn't know what to make of her second sight. Her father is scared of her abilities and tells her they are wrong and her stepmother thinks its the work of the Devil. Only her new friend Billy the Bowl thinks its a great and wonderful gift to have and she should embrace it and use it.

When servant girls start to be strangled and robbed and Taney bares witness to this when she floats (She leaves her body behind) she must decide if her second sight is a gift or a curse.

Dark Warning is an intriguing read. It's not only about the mystery of the strangler but of a young girl growing up and trying to find herself, wanting to better herself and overall about a friendship between two people. In Billy, Taney see's someone who is liked by everyone, he is fun and he doesn't judge her ability or be scared of it. He is her friend.

Billy has had a hard life, being brought up by nuns who then sent him to the House of Industry, an awful place where the poorest of the poor live and work. They are virtually "owned" by the House of Industry and Billy has survived it and is making the most out of life. All this would be hard for anyone but for Billy it was harder, he had no legs. Thus his name was Billy the Bowl as he travels around in a special bowl made for him. Billy really cares for Taney as does Taney for Billy. Even when Taney finds out that Billy used her in a way, she still cares for him and wants to help him. Taney is a really likeable character.

Overall Dark Warning is full of great characters from all walks of life, from the poor to the rich. They all play a part in the story. The writing takes you back to the old streets of Dublin which seems like a world away and immerses you into the lifes of the characters. The mystery of the Strangler kept me wanting to turn the pages and Taney as the main protagonist kept me hooked. Dark Warning is a book I would highly recommend!

5/5 STARS