The Dark Side by Danielle Steel

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Dark Side: A Novel by Danielle Steel
Random House Pub
August 27, 2019
Fiction, digital book
288 pages

I received a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure of reading a novel by this talented author.

Interesting story which is narrated in the third person. An immediate theme seemed apparent initially but then had me wondering only to discover my instincts were correct. Coincidentally, this is not true for the protagonist of the novel which makes it ironic. The story unfolds gradually with hints of “something is wrong here” which overshadows the gravity of the theme.

Zoe Morgan grew up in the shadow of sister Rose who required extensive medical care to treat her leukemia. Life had been extremely difficult with Zoe left in the care of her father so her mother could attend to Rose. The illness and eventual death of Rose has long lasting consequences from which the family never recovers. When Zoe’s parents divorce, she lives with her despondent mother who does little to provide support or closure regarding the loss of Rose.

Zoe and Austin Morgan seem to live the idyllic life. Zoe wrangled with finding a career which would satisfy her. She eventually dropped out of medical school and found her passion working for a nonprofit shelter helping abused children. Austin works as an attorney who often does pro bono work for the shelter.

When Zoe becomes pregnant, her anxiety of becoming a mother escalate. She overcompensates by reading and researching all sorts of information. Unfortunately, she formulates a rigid and unconventional philosophy of child rearing. Zoe is unable to tolerate anyone who doesn’t support her unreasonable demands. Many excuse her peccadilloes as the excessive worries of a new mother who still mourns the loss of her sister as a child.

The couple become well-known to their pediatrician, Cathy, who never seems to mind alleviating the many concerns Zoe always seem to have regarding Jaime. It seems that since birth the child has required many trips to the emergency room which only heightened Zoe’s distress. When Zoe decides to return to work after a lengthy maternity leave, it seems finding a nanny who will meet Zoe’s inflexible expectations proves challenging.

Eventually, the family seems to settle into a routine which is often disrupted with sudden emergencies to attend to Jaime. Although the frequency of medical attention, much suspicion is cast aside for the overly protective loving mother. Some of the tragedies, such as Jaime falling down the stairs and breaking her arm, could’ve been prevented if not for Zoe’s unconventional theories of “respecting the child” to learn independently.

Austin seeks advice from his mother, a retired therapist, regarding Zoe’s obdurate convictions. He grapples with wanting to support his wife and protect his daughter. A catastrophic event during their vacation in Florida provides Austin with the clarity he needs to seek assistance to save Jaime.

Initially, I had become unimpressed with the culminating events until I had time to contemplate the entire story. As I was frustrated with the series of events it occurred to me how frustrating it must be for the family and friends who have lived this nightmare. The denial and desire to overlook the obvious must be overwhelming since the truth is unbearable.




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