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Dark Mode

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST CRIME FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ABIA FOR GENERAL FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTED FOR THE DANGER AWARD - BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION


Once you're online, there's nowhere to hide

Is it paranoia – or is someone watching?

For years, Reagan Carsen has kept her life offline. No socials. No internet presence. No photos. Safe.

Until the day she stumbles on a shocking murder in a Sydney laneway. The victim looks just like her.

Coincidence?

As more murders shake the city and she's increasingly drawn out from hiding, Reagan is forced to confront her greatest fear.

She's been found.

A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay for surrendering our privacy one click at a time.
PRAISE:

'Thrilling and twisty – get ready to be paranoid' – J.P. Pomare, author of The Wrong Woman
'twisty and tantalising... Dark Mode is a thrilling read for when you need to get consumed by a good thriller instead of a social media binge.' – Arts Hub Australia

'a darkly sparkling gem' – The Canberra Times

'Absolutely terrifying! I turned every page with my heart in my mouth, utterly hooked by this explosive thriller. Ashley Kalagian Blunt taps into the dangers we face online every day and the monsters in our midst. Dark Mode is a powerful and disturbing story which will keep you thinking long after you've finished reading.' – Petronella McGovern, author of The Liars

'With Dark Mode, Ashley Kalagian Blunt has turned her love of true crime and passion for suspense fiction into a fierce wake-up call of a thriller, one that looks unflinchingly at the horrors of the dark web and sheds light on the unimaginable. Riveting, tense and supremely chilling, this is an eye-opening must-read for crime fiction fans everywhere.' – Anna Downes, author of The Shadow House

'Wow. Page turning, chilling dread that kept me guessing until the end. Ashley Kalagian Blunt hits it out of the park, creating a dark world where your worst fears aren't the worst thing to fear – not even close.' – R.W.R McDonald, author of Nancy Business
'Dark Mode's greatest achievement is that, as the pieces fall into place, it's not just Reagan Carsen's world that's turned upside down – it's ours. Its stunning payoff doesn't just reverberate through the pages, but beyond the book and into the world at large, where its implications are of urgent significance ... there are some realities most of us would sooner pretend are impossible than acknowledge are already here. Kalagian Blunt forces our gazes upon them in this compulsive and breathless thriller.' – James McKenzie Watson, author of Denizen

'Dark and twisty, this thrilling offering from Ashley Kalagian Blunt is absolutely not to be missed. This book will keep you up at night' – Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town
'If you think that what happens on the dark web will never affect you, this book begs the question: are you sure about that? Like, sure-sure? A twisty, terrifying thriller, Dark Mode will have you buying a flip phone and moving off the grid the second you turn the final page, just so you can breathe again. I loved it.' – Pip Drysdale, author of The Next Girl

'A chilling and utterly gripping read that...
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    • Books+Publishing

      January 10, 2023
      Dark Mode opens with the graphic discovery of a woman disturbingly murdered in the same way as the infamous, unsolved case of the Black Dahlia. Also disturbing for Reagan Carsen, who discovers the body on her morning run, is the fact the woman looks near identical to her. Reagan is immediately convinced that this is connected to a stalker from her past whom she has been avoiding by having no online presence. While her best friend and true-crime author Min-lee follows the investigation into the 'Sydney Dahlia' murders, Reagan focuses on keeping her beloved garden centre from going bankrupt. Digital marketing, the bank tells her, will be necessary for them to loan her money. Reagan’s concession to financial solvency opens the door to further attacks against her using the arsenal of the digital world. The author of a memoir and thriller novella, Ashley Kalagian Blunt has produced a well-researched and extremely timely debut novel that conveys a deep insight into the dangers hiding out of sight online and on the dark web. The parallel between serial killers and digital crimes and their association with virulent misogyny creates a sense of horror so extreme that Dark Mode makes The Silence of the Lambs look like a fairytale. This novel is recommended for readers of crime fiction who are new to digital crimes and communities, as Reagan regularly acts as a stand-in for the reader learning about concepts such as ‘swatting’, ‘doxing’, and ‘incels’.

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  • English

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