Dark Ride: A Thriller

Written by Lou Berney

Narrated by Johnathan McClain

FINALIST FOR THE LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE!

From Lou Berney, the acclaimed, multi award-winning author of November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone, comes a Dark Ride

Sometimes the person you least expect is just the hero you need

Twenty-one-year-old Hardy “Hardly” Reed—good-natured, easygoing, usually stoned—is drifting through life. A minimum-wage scare actor at an amusement park, he avoids unnecessary effort and unrealistic ambitions. 

Then one day he notices two children, around six or seven, sitting all alone on a bench. Hardly checks if they’re okay and sees injuries on both children. Someone is hurting these kids.

He reports the incident to Child Protective Service.

That should be the end of it. After all, Hardly's not even good at looking out for himself so the last thing he wants to do is look out for anyone else. But he's haunted by the two kids, his heart breaking for them. And the more research he does the less he trusts that Child Protective Services —understaffed and overworked—will do anything about it.

That leaves…Hardly. He is probably the last person you’d ever want to count on. But those two kids have nobody else but him. Hardly has to do what's right and help them.

For the first time in his life, Hardly decides to fight for something. This might be the one point in his entire life, he realizes, that is the entire point of his life. He will help those kids.

At first, trying to gather evidence that will force the proper authorities to intervene, Hardly is a total disaster. Gradually, with assistance from unexpected allies, he develops investigative skills and discovers he’s smarter and more capable than he ever imagined.

But Hardly also discovers that the situation is more dangerous than he ever expected. The abusive father who has been hurting these children isn’t just a lawyer—he also runs a violent drug-dealing operation. The mother claims she wants to escape with the kids—but Hardly isn't sure he can trust her.

Faced with a different version of himself than he has ever known, Hardly refuses to give up. But his commitment to saving these kids from further harm might end up getting the kids, and Hardly himself, killed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Sep 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063342170

Lou Berney

Lou Berney is the multiple award-winning author of Dark Ride, November Road, and The Long and Faraway Gone, as well as Gutshot Straight and Whiplash River. His short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and the Pushcart Prize anthology. He lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and teaches in the MFA program at Oklahoma City University.

Reviews for Dark Ride

[Meg Marsh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Narration was great and story was very compelling. Catcher in the Rye meets Straw Dogs?? I love Berney’s novels but wasn’t wild about the ending.

[saunders · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very interesting story and the narrator is incredibly good

[Mary Beth Creque · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I’m so pissed that I listened to the end. What was the point?

[Robert Larmer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent plotting and writing. The author is well worth following.

[Jeanne Nichol · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fresh new plot! Narrator is so good. Feels like a friend talking to a friend. It is easy to become one with characters. Fast pace n full of surprises. Recommend!

[LynneGauthier · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked the book, but there was no resolution at the end. Too many ends that weren’t tied up and now I’m frustrated.

[omer yusaf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really Liked it. Audio narration was great .Full of emotions

[Lisa Rothermel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this from the first sentence to the last. Entertaining the whole way through!!

[Yvette Bonett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A story about a super chill guy thrown in a situation where he's determined to do the right thing and going against what the average person would normally do. Has a mix of unlikely friendships, courage, and a sense of humour which sort of throws you off.....with an unexpected ending. Narrator was really good. Loved his voice, which totally fit the main character.

[Karen Walker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like it but should’ve said weather Hadley lived or died