Upon its original publication, River of Darkness awed readers who look for intelligent, well-plotted psychological mysteries. This "fine, frightening piece of work" (Kirkus Reviews) introduces inspector John Madden who, in the years following World War I, is sent to a small village to investigate a particularly gruesome attack. The local police dismiss the slaughter as a botched robbery, but Madden detects the signs of a madman at work. With the help of Dr. Helen Blackwell, who introduces him to the latest developments in criminal psychology, Madden sets out to identify and capture the killer, even as the murderer sets his sights on his next innocent victims.

"It's the tactics and the terrain, the morale and the characters that make the difference between an average thriller and one as good as this."
—Christopher Dickey, The New York Times Book Review

"One of the best mysteries I have read in years."
—Donald M. Murray, The Boston Globe