After Dark

Ghost Hunters, Book 1

By: Jayne Castle

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Life is tough these days for Lydia Smith, licensed para-archaeologist. Seriously stressed-out from a nasty incident in an alien tomb, she is obliged to work in Shrimpton's House of Ancient Horrors, a very low-budget museum. She has a plan to get her career back on track, but it isn't going well. Stuff keeps happening.

Take the dead body that she discovered in the sarcophagus exhibit. Who needed that? Finding out that her new client, Emmett London, is one of the most dangerous men in the city isn't helping matters either. And that's just today's list of setbacks. Here in the shadows of the Dead City of Old Cadence, things don't really heat up until After Dark.

©2007 Jayne Castle (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Too Much Romance for Me

I bought a bunch of paranormal books on Audible's big Halloween sale. I forgot that adult romances are big on sexual details. This story was fairly interesting inspite of the detailed sex. I guess I'll stick with YA for the most part from now on. I like more adventure with just a little romance on the side, rather than sex being the main event.

My first Jane Castle book, and I will read more.

I saw in another review that Jayne Castle writes under the name Amanda Quick. I have read 2 one of her series there, and now, knowing that information, I can say that I do understand why I felt familiar and comfortable right away with her story telling style. I did like the characters and the story. I just was not clued in on this whole "thru the veil" thing, and I think I felt like I should have read another book about this place they are at before this book. One that would let me know some background.

Other than that, it was entertaining, and I will be reading Book 2.

Fast forward and you won't miss a thing

Narrative repeatedly states heroine is smart, but none of her actions show why. Stilted dialogue between characters. Slow, repetitive. Narrator not awful, but would avoid her.

Classics from the text...Whistled silently...she tried to think logically, but it wasn't easy

Cliche with a side order of predictable.

After Dark: Ghost Hunters has a compelling title and summary but falls flat as a whole. My only positive note is that Joyce Bean gave an excellent performance. Unfortunately excellent narration couldn't save this book. I would recommend the Dresden Files as an enjoyable alternative.

-The Good-
1. Joyce Bean gives an excellent performance.
2. The audiobook was on sale.

-The Bad-
1. The characters are cookie cutter, with some completely unnecessary.
2. The romance subplot feels awkward and forced, not built up over time.
3. The world and environment lacks substance. Instead, the author takes everyday items and puts an "alien and edgy" sounding word in front of it. So you end up hearing about Rezz Tea, Rezz'ing up a car engine, feeling so rezzed, etc.

This book shows potential but comes off much more as a fan-fiction than anything else. As there are more books in the series I can only hope that the problems of this book were corrected. Unfortunately, I won't be continuing the series.

Resonates

Good start at world building. A little backstory on how humans got there and built over an older race. How they resonate with certain artifacts. Should have fleshed out a bit more detail on the world, it's workings and history.

A great beginning

I have been listening to the harmony books for a while now, it was great to download After Dark and see where it all started.

Good storyline

This is a good start to the series. I'm working backward as I've read others. Unfortunately, they all do seem to have the same storyline base and the female main character has the same type of sarcastic angry attitude. The only thing not predictable is the primary bad guy.

Enjoyed this book!

This book was my introduction to this author and I will definitely listen to the rest of the series. The narrarator was fantastic and since I've always loved archaeology this book was perfect for me.

Wonderful futuristic romance

Loved JUne Castles characters and storyline. Joyce Bean did a great job of bringing it alive

Not that Interesting

Story line was just OK. Nothing exciting happening in it to keep you setting on the edge of your seat. The story was kind of boring!

Light, Easy & Fun

Listening to the adventures of Lydia Smith and Emmett London in their story of romance and mystery . Joyce Bean narration bought the world of portals, ancient worlds, psychic talents , plots and subplots to life for me and it felt a little like I was listening to a delicious soap opera that left me with a happy grin on my face having been brought totally into that world I realised the narrator allowed me to forget the little irritation that I might imagine if I was reading the words on the page and just allowed me to have fun.



After listening/ reading to a few more of A Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krentz /Amanda Quick books I realised I really rather like the worlds she creates through the Harmony series and the Arcane society that I had previously judged a little harshly after listening to my first Jayne Castle book Midnight Crystal. While these books are definitely not challenging or sometimes ask you to stretch the boundaries of your believability I can say with a heartfelt smile they are a fun listen/read in that order for me and one of my guilty pleasures.

Highly recommend this.

Thoroughly enjoyable if you like scifi/fantasy. Excellent performance. Imaginative, fun and romantic story. Go Fuzz.

A lot of potential

Am not really sure what to say. Feel there is a lot of potential here, and am surprised I feel so much lacking in the story. It seems the material is there. just not used to it´s full potential. This is the first book in the series I have listened to, am perhaps missing some initial part? But don´t really think so. Aspects lacking in handling (in my opinion) range from emotions of the heroine, her boyfriend´s (and everyone else), the beginning of the world the story happens in and about everything else in the storie´s world building, and the plot itself ... Am wondering if I am wrong. But the feelings are definitely missing, so maybe I am right? At least we can be sure I want more from this story. Maybe it can be found in next book? Will think about it some more. There are some new and fun ideas in the story and those I do like. A lot.