Into the Darkest Corner - You Don’t Need a Bruise to be Abused

In Ireland, it is estimated that one in five women experience domestic violence.  This year,  to mark the 16 days of Action and Awareness on Violence against Women,  which runs from 25^th November to 10^th December, the Mid-West Local Area Networks (Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary) are actively targeting libraries and book-clubs to promote literature with the theme of ‘violence against women.’ Readers and book clubs in the region are invited to read Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes with a view to raising awareness within our community of domestic abuse and holding open discussions on the topic.  While this book is a work of fiction it captures the very stark reality of a woman living with an abusive partner and the danger that occurs when she tries to leave him.

‘Catherine Bailey has been enjoying the single life long enough to know a catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic and spontaneous, Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each in turn falls under his spell. But what begins as flattering attentiveness and passionate sex turns into raging jealousy, and Catherine soon learns there is a darker side to Lee. His increasingly erratic, controlling behaviour becomes frightening, but no one believes her when she shares her fears. Increasingly isolated and driven into the darkest corner of her world, a desperate Catherine plans a meticulous escape. Four years later, Lee is behind bars and Catherine - now Cathy - compulsively checks the locks and doors in her apartment, trusting no one. But when an attractive upstairs neighbour, Stuart, comes into her life, Cathy dares to hope that happiness and love may still be possible . . . until she receives a phone call informing her of Lee's impending release.’
Book-clubs and readers will meet to discuss ‘Into the Darkest Corner’ in libraries in Ennis, Shannon and Kilrush during the Awareness Campaign where representatives from Clare Haven Services will attend to discuss how the real life cases are often as shocking as the fiction, thereby creating an awareness of the prevalence of domestic abuse in our communities. Shannon Library will host a discussion group on Tuesday 27^th November, Kilrush Library on Wednesday 28^th November and DeValera Library, Ennis on Tuesday 4^th December. All meetings take place at 7.00 p.m.

‘Into the Darkest Corner’ was winner of the 2011 Amazon Best Book of the Year. It is an edgy and powerful thriller. Readers’ comments include:
‘a real page-turner, you won’t want to put it down’;
‘not often do you find a book so disturbing and yet so enjoyable to read’;
‘It gave me the same feeling as ‘We need to talk about Kevin’, while reading I felt physically sick, but had to keep going, and really, I’m glad I did, this is an amazing book’ and
‘WOW. What an incredibly intense book! I can see why film rights have already been picked up by Hollywood’.

Get your copy now and join us in Kilrush, Shannon or Ennis Library to discuss and compare notes.