Five Stars. "Are you a true crime fan? As someone who has always clung to the adage that truth is stranger than fiction, I certainly am. And when it comes to the content and characters in Out Here in the Darkness by Abra Stevens, I know that for some readers the truth in this book will not only be stranger than fiction but a lot harder to stomach. You can't just close this book and tell yourself "Good thing that never happened!"
With that warning in mind, prepare to be shocked and even somewhat nauseous when you read how on one summer night, five teens brutally murdered one of their peers in a field near a cemetery. Stevens does not spare the gory details. Not only is what these teens did abhorrent, but the events leading up to it and the group's justification of the act are repulsive.
Out Here in the Darkness is a well-researched book that combines actual details of police efforts to find those responsible with specific court transcripts once they face the justice system for sentencing. But what elevates this true crime story above becoming a dry recording of facts is Stevens' ability to make these young criminals real people who have gone astray. Through the exchange of dialogue between the teens, and their likely personal reflections before and after the act, readers recognize that several of these teens were once just kids raised in anything but ideal circumstances.
Though their crime was monstrous, Stevens doesn't leave readers thinking of them as monsters. Abra Stevens' interest in the psychology of these murderers is shown most toward the end where the author devotes several chapters to exploring one of them, Mike Cravey, as he serves his 33-year prison sentence. This section is most enlightening, and readers who care more about the whys than the whats behind violent acts like the one depicted will think about those whys long after they close the book." -
Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
"Abra Stevens' "Out Here in the Darkness" offers a meticulous retelling of a real-life, kill-for-thrills murder carried out by a group of Houston teens in 1985. Set against a backdrop of heavy metal culture, drug use and teen boredom, the story draws from official courtroom documentation and media accounts that helped birth the so-called "Satanic Panic" of mid-1980s America. Beyond the horrific brutality and sensational headlines, however, is the oddly compelling -- and powerfully written -- story of how one of the killers spends his life sentence recounting his deeds, questioning his self-worth and digging for elusive glimmers of hope while the world outside goes on without him. The author's knack for capturing such soul-searching despair will leave you so numb and hollow, you too, will find yourself trapped in the cold isolation of prison and struggling with the weights of crime, punishment and the human condition." - Metal Dave, 2fast2die.com
"Abra Stevens, with her knowledge in assembling complex litigation cases, is amply capable of allowing the reader to experience the story as the victim, investigator, coroner, and criminal with detailed precision. Added to this her understanding, as well as perspective, of the various documents collected during this case review.
Each and every aspect from the discovery of the body to all the investigation, arrests and trial are detailed as they are laid in almost a timeline order to allow the reader to be immersed in the story as it unfolded. It is obvious that the interviews she conducted with the various people involved in this dreadful crime, when brought together, allow the reader to see all the perspectives and walk in each pair of shoes who touched this investigation. I consider her an investigative expert on this subject from one end to the other." - Rox Burkey, Co-Author of the award-winning techno-thriller series, The Enigma Series.
"Out Here Into the Darkness, by the amazing Abra Stevens, is a kaleidoscopic cocktail of true crime storytelling, psychological profiling and pop culture commentary all set to a heavy metal soundtrack of teenage angst and traumatic events taking place in 1980s Texas. An alluring read that leaves you thinking about both the story AND the facts long after you've put the book down, I highly recommend this tale to anyone looking for something just wonderfully different enough to read it more than once!" -
Jaysen Buterin,
Mad Ones Films. "Disturbing, Shocking, Mind Blowing and Gripping, Out Here in the Darkness, Abra Stevens horrifying debut novel of misguided teens, will stun any fan of the true crime genre and gratify readers who like a well written tale. If there was ever a book that made you feel like a "fly on the wall," this is the one! Not only is Stevens story extremely well researched, the dialogue, the interviews, well-organized, it's the special attention to detail that transforms a person back to the mid 80's to a virtual movie-set in your mind. So well written, exciting and with some original surprises, we can only hope that Stevens has more tales to tell!" -
John Miller,
Beta reader.
