The Man in the Dark Night

A Novel

Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
549 Pages
Reviewed on 04/05/2022
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Author Biography

Arya Ayaan is an up-and-coming author who has a passion for writing and storytelling. He loves exploring different worlds and diving into the minds of his characters. He published his first novel, The Man in the Dark Night, in 2022. He is excited to share his work with the world and hopes to inspire others with his stories.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Man in the Dark Night: A Novel by Arya Ayaan is a psychological thriller that will have you biting your nails until the end. Our story follows an initially unnamed male protagonist whose car broke down. With the rain pouring heavily and a flat tire that cannot be fixed, his only source of refuge is home. Walking to his mansion was tedious, and his wife could not help but notice that he was acting strange. But he is not the only one. Something strange is happening to both of them and their relationship. Things get confusing, the couple doesn’t remember a lot of things and before they know it, strange things happen. What is wrong with our protagonist? What is the dark presence that they feel?

A psychological thriller novel can be predictable and clichéd if authors aren’t careful, but Arya Ayaan did a fantastic job of keeping the plot fresh and interesting right until the very end of the story. The atmosphere of the story was intense, dark, and mysterious. Nothing made sense in the beginning but as The Man in the Dark Night progressed, it became clear to me that something was wrong with the protagonist. We get to know toward the end that he is called Christopher, and there is something wrong with him or something is driving him crazy. The ending surprised me. I was not expecting the last chapter and the turn of the story. I love how the author took just a handful of characters and created a story around them. Fans of psychological thriller novels will enjoy it!

K.C. Finn

The Man in the Dark Night: A Novel is a work of fiction in the psychological, thriller, and metaphysical fiction subgenres. It is intended for the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Arya Ayaan. In this thrilling and slow-burning psychological mystery tale, we meet a protagonist who seems to have everything in his life in perfect harmony. But when life throws several devastating and irreversible changes into his path, this creates a chain reaction and a seemingly unstoppable path to ruin. Will he survive it, and even if he does, will it change him forever?

The Man in the Dark Night is written in a direct and immediate narrative style which will not suit all readers, but once I was engrossed in Arya Ayaan’s plot, I settled in well to the unfolding drama. We see the central protagonist undergoing an emotional metamorphosis which really holds the core of this tale together, as many unexpected and surreal moments invite themselves into his idyllic life and turn everything on its head. One feature which I particularly enjoyed was the juxtaposition of the mundane versus the speculative and supernatural moments, which really enhanced that unsettled feeling and dramatized the fragile mental state of the central figure tremendously. The dialogue too was fresh, direct, and never overdone, which allowed the plot to take center stage and draw readers in. Overall, The Man in the Dark Night will suit readers who favor an accessible and slow-burning thriller plot that has multi-genre undertones with fantastic concepts and unexpected moments throughout. An engrossing and thought-provoking read.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

The Man in the Dark Night: A Novel by Arya Ayaan is a psychological thriller. The man has a wife and children and he lives a wonderful life in a mansion - or so he thinks. On a wet night, he gets a flat tire as he drives his wife home and, unable to fix it, they set off home on foot. That was the day they both noticed that the other person was acting strangely. He begins to notice odd things happening in his life, in his marriage, and he can't figure out why. His life is about to be turned upside down and there is nothing he can do to stop it. Who is he? Why did he just invite a strange man into his house? The man and his wife begin to forget many things and their relationship is teetering on the edge. Can they figure out who the man in the dark night is? That strange, heavy presence they both sense? Or is life as they know it over?

The Man in the Dark Night by Arya Ayaan is a unique story with an unusual plot. The story is shrouded in mystery and, to start with, it won't make any sense to you. Stick with it because it all becomes very clear. You won't know the main protagonist's name until near the end of the book, and the ending will surprise you. The characters are interesting, as well-developed as nameless people can be, with disturbing lives. This is a cleverly written book, twisting and turning to keep you on your toes but not fast-paced. This is more of a slow-burner, the tension building gradually throughout, just enough at a time to keep you invested in reading it to the end. Part psychological and part supernatural thriller, this book will keep you guessing all the way through. Highly recommended for all thriller lovers.