Rating: 
Summary: Ms. Wolf successfully lessens her romance with more mystery
Review: In twelfth century England, all twenty-year old Hugh Corbaille wants out of life is to act as brave and honorable as his foster father, Ralf, the Sheriff of Lincoln. However, at the Battle of Standard, two events radically change Hugh's life. First his beloved Ralf dies in the fight. Second, Sir Nigel Haslin recognizes the uncanny resemblance to his former liege, the deceased Earl of Wiltshire, whose son was abducted thirteen years ago. As Nigel learns more about Hugh's past, he believes he has found the missing Wiltshire heir. Though he has some doubts, Hugh agrees to accompany Nigel back to Wiltshire to learn the truth even though it may mean losing all he holds dear back in Lincoln. There is also the current Earl of Wiltshire who has no desire to abdicate his seat to some upstart even if that individual turns out to be the true heir. Renowned for her warm historical romances, Joan Wolf has stepped into the Medieval mystery sub-genre without blinking an eye. NO DARK PLACE is a clever who-done-it that centers on who killed the Earl fourteen years ago. The suspense-laden story line is entertaining and filled with twelfth century depth. However, what makes Ms. Wolf's novel roar is the characters who turn Medieval England into a fantastic literary journey. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but I wasn't blown away
Review: A good book with an interesting story. But I felt that the historical aspects of the story were underdeveloped. Crichton's Timeline is a better example of a period novel where you are able to absorb more information about the time in which it is set. Sometimes the character dialog/thoughts seem overly simplistic. However, the story moved along nicely and kept one's attention.
Rating: 
Summary: A book lacking the author's usual PASSION
Review: As I finished "No Dark Place," I wondered what I missed? The answer is PASSION. Joan Wolf usually gives the reader passion within the story line and within her characters. This quality is completely lacking in her lastest selection. While not totally "fluff" the characters and the plot remind me of something written ten even fifteen years ago. Ms. Wolf is an author I admire and this work is not her best. The time period could have lent itself to a more engaging story line and more interesting characters. Here's hoping her next book has all that her readers have come to expect.
Rating: 
Summary: Joan Wolf At Her Best
Review: Hugh Corbaille, the hero/sleuthe of No Dark Place, is the epitome of the charismatic hero. Short, slight, unsmiling, and efficient, he is a man to reckon with, but in Cristen Haslin he has perhaps met his match...delightfully. As Hugh strives to unravel the secret of his parentage, the reader begins to understand from whom he has inherited his compelling personality and the fortunate circumstances of his upbringing. If you enjoy seeing a strong man stand up to mental torture, you'll love No Dark Place. I did. Thank you, Joan Wolf.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but lacks passion
Review: I agree with the reader from Massachusetts who said that the book lacks passion. I think part of the problem is that Hugh Corbaille rarely shows strong emotion. His rigid self-control and mastery of non-emotional response to threats--while certainly commendable--kind of makes for a boring hero. Where's the passion? the action? the errors in judgment to learn from and overcome? A hero who stands around with blank stares is a bit dull to me. The period detail was fascinating however. I look forward to the next in the series.
Rating:
Summary: At points good, at points slow
Review: I am a fan of Joan Wolf's historical romances, so I was interested in seeing her try her luck in the historical mystery market. I must say that she needs to work at it a little more. Hugh de Leon is bereft at the lost of his foster father, but an unknown knight reveals to him that he may be the long-lost heir to the earldom of Wiltshire, a strategic stronghold in the war between King Stephan and the Empress Matilda. The only problem is, Hugh's father was murdered and he cannot remember his life before he lived with his foster parents. Hugh then journeys all around England trying to find out what really happened on that day thirteen years ago. Along the way he finds friendship and love in an impossible match and the courage to confront his past. I am sorry, but as I am writing this review, I am realizing how shallow a lot of this story was. Although I liked the character of Hugh, the dialogue was silly and the writing stilted. I felt that each time the characters talked to each other, I was listening to ten year olds. The ending was wrapped up way to quickly and was anticlimatic at best. I never would have thought of the ending simply because it was the most uninteresting option. Definately not something that I expect from Joan Wolf. Joan Wolf should have stuck to the first-person historical romances that she wrote, they were far more interesting and well-written.
Rating:
Summary: This book made me feel cheated!
Review: I bought this book for what I thought was going to be an interesting beach read. It was, to a point. There were some good parts to the book, but as it went on, I was irritated to see 20th century pop psychology pasted onto medieval psyches. Also, the writing got a bit repetitive with its imagery. My biggest gripe, however, without giving the ending away, is that the book is written as a cliffhanger. It is no accident that the big on-line book stores show that customers who bought this book also bought A Poisoned Serpent....they had to if they wanted to find out what happened! This is a cheap trick, in my mind, that ought not to be perpetrated on an unsuspecting reading public.
Rating:
Summary: It's missing something.
Review: I cannot put my finger on exactly WHAT is missing, I just know that I was left with a nagging impression that something was. The book is competent but it seems a bit hollow. Perhaps the problem is the story is more infatuated with plot than with the characters. While in general Joan Wolfe is one of my favorites, this definitely is not one of my favorite books that she has written.
Rating:
Summary: Flat. Is this a first draft?
Review: I have been a fan of Joan Wolf in the past--especially her Dark Ages Trilogy...impressed then with the passion and complexity of her characters. This book to me seemed like an outline or rough draft of a decent book. There were lots of one sentence paragraphs to advance the plot. Good idea, but just no meat on the bones. I was disappointed, but not permanently, I will read Joan Wolf again, but I will scan it before I buy!
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but not as good as I was expecting.
Review: I read her "Road to Avalon" and loved it, so I was hoping for a little more than what this story gave. Nevertheless it is a good story and worth the reading.
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