Bunny's Reviews: Maelstrom of Darkness Review Spotlight

I don’t know about you, but I love a great action thriller. Especially when the villain is an evil, up-to-no-good research lab! Check out Maelstrom of Darkness by D.W. Whitlock.

Maelstrom of Darkness is an intriguing thriller by D.W. Whitlock and is the second book in his Alex Schofield thriller series. Alex Schofield, the main character, starts off this book finding himself in quite the bind, but then he’s given an offer that he can’t turn down. It’s not like he really has a choice. Someone wants their pound of flesh from him, but he has this one opportunity to “get out of jail free.” The mission? Visit the Nocturne and find out the secrets being kept there. It’s a complex job, but that’s why they’re calling him in to handle it.

Maelstrom of Darkness starts off slow, and will have you wondering where exactly the author is going in the first couple chapters. Hang in there, the good part is coming. The author is setting the stage for Schofield and why he gets the tap for this particular job. His past is catching up to him, and not in a positive way.

This book is told from the third person POV, and focuses on more than just Schofield. Schofield is the main focus, but he’s not the only one so be prepared for shifts from him to others so that you get the full scope of the storyline as it unfolds.

The deeper that Maelstrom of Darkness goes, the more intrigued you will be by the storyline. Someone is scoping out the Nocturne, and the question becomes – who? And why? When they learn that Schofield has been called in why does this seem to signal to ramp things up? Is there a history between them?

Then there is young Harlow. She’s part of the cleaning crew for the Nocturne. She was just looking for a way to help support her family (not that they deserve it), but she’s finding herself embroiled in something much much bigger. If she’s not careful she’ll find herself in more trouble than she ever could have bargained for. She’s not prepared for what’s coming, but secrets are coming to light.

Author Whitlock weaves together science with politics seamlessly in this book. You get a beautifully blended concoction of science, politics, money, and thriller all together that draws you and before you know it – you’re halfway through the book eagerly devouring it.

Schofield is an intriguing character. He just wants his life back. All he wants is to be free of all the drama, all the b.s. that has drawn him in and forced him to make hard choices. With the events unfolding all around him...his wish is looking more and more like a pipe dream. Nothing is what it seems. Secrets are all around him, and you just have to question – who has the most to gain and the most to lose?

The layers of intrigue and suspense in this book are thick! There are some predictable elements, but instead of taking away from the story, they add to it. It’s expected that there will be some predictable aspects to this story. It takes real talent though for them to not detract from the story and annoy the reader. The author is successful in this respect.

For readers looking for an intriguing thriller, this book will be a must-read. It has a mildly rocky start as readers will question the context or the point of the beginning, but once this book gains its footing… Well, it’s off to the races and you won’t want to put this book down. If you’re like this reader, you’ll be eager for more Alex Schofield books and even be looking to check out book one in this series.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, D.W. Whitlock, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to what comes next!

Maelstrom of Darkness: Alex Schofield Book 2 (Darkness Series)

Publication Date: August 28, 2023

Genre: Thriller/ Action/ Adventure

A shadowy research facility. Far beyond oversight. Discovery has a price.

The Nocturne. A high-tech biological research facility representing the life’s work of visionary entrepreneur Clarissa St. Claire. Located deep within international waters, the facility is unregulated. Beyond oversight. Above the law. Their goal is simple: push the boundaries of science without the hindrance of regulation. But as dark rumors grow about the true nature of the research being conducted there, a powerful threat grows on the horizon.

Alex Schofield owes a debt, one that he can repay, but for a price. To escape his past, Schofield must visit the facility and discover if the research on the Nocturne really is the search for scientific truth, or is hiding a much darker secret. A secret that could change the future of humanity forever.

In this dark adventure thriller, D.W. Whitlock explores the high-stakes world of biological research and the potential risks to the future of humankind.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

D.W. Whitlock has been a storyteller for most of his life, starting with short stories scribbled
in crayon, animation flip-books, stop-motion and later CG animation for television and video
games. While pursuing a career in animation, writing has always been the first step, from
short descriptions to detailed backstories. As a life-long reader and book lover, crafting
thriller novels felt like the natural evolution of those first forays into writing. When not writing,
D.W. enjoys gaming, spending time with his family and Triumph Motorcycles.

DW Whitlock