Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

With Dark Understandings is a work of fiction in the political thriller and mystery subgenres and was penned by author Fazle Chowdhury. In this vast and interweaving tapestry of murder, deceit, power, and politics, we find out the true scandalous nature of the political game and the greed and hunger for destruction which lie behind its shiny facade. The central figure is Andres Orce, a former military lieutenant, who intends to run for the leadership of his party despite the doubts and outright complaints of many fellow party members. What results is a high octane and thrilling exploration of how desperate the players of the game may become when they could lose everything.

Author Fazle Chowdhury sets up an intriguing and mysterious thriller novel that treads the line between the two genres really well. The slow-burning conspiracy and mystery elements of the tale keep the intrigue going around protagonist Andres and those who would oppose him, making you wonder what the next twist will be in the well-constructed plot. Convincing dialogue and deep character development work keeps the novel grounded in realism, even when the plot spikes with some very exciting and unbelievable moments. There is also a really well-crafted layer of literary quality to the work, referencing interesting political science and psychology concepts as Andres suffers through this thrilling trial by fire. Overall, With Dark Understandings is a highly accomplished work by an author with a unique sense of psyche and timing for the genre.