Backlash

By: Jack L. Pyke

Narrated by: Dan Calley

Length: 14 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Those five months away. Where were you, mukka?” (Jack Harrison)

In the aftermath of Jack Harrison’s release from the psychiatric unit, Gray Raoul’s innate “born this bastard way” instinct is to brutally repay the one responsible for financing Jack and Jan’s torturous psychological reconditioning. But that person is a professional player in their own right, one who knows exactly how to manipulate everyone in Gray’s life. To help negotiate this delicate situation, Gray seeks to contract Trace and his ex-Diadem Dom, Gabriel Hunter. But the more Gray seems to regain control, the clearer it becomes that there’s something not quite right about Jan Richards. 

As Jan’s world unravels, taking Jack and Gray with it and bringing out one particular deadly player, Gray’s left with one last defence: Break Jack down in order to partner up with Martin. But once freed, Martin’s out for retribution of his own, and he wants to get downright personal with Gray.

Complete trust between Master, sub, and lover, between Gray, Jack, and Jan - is about to be tested to the absolute limit.

©2015 Jack L. Pyke (P)2019 Jack L. Pyke

Will leave you disoriented

Genre: LGBTQIA, M/M/M Romance, Dark Fiction

4 Blue Roses

4 Blue Flames

Narrator Dan Calley gave a very slow, intense and top heavy delivery. His usual enthusiasm was missing. I got the idea he was as frustrated as I was. I felt this was overloaded with detail, my small brain was at times unable to keep up with it all. I found myself lost again in the maze I started out in book one of this series. I find it was extremely busy jumping from situations and persons, causing me to be unable to construct what the main thread of the plot was. It was totally unpredictable.

I actually listened to this book twice. I had to make sure I’m not missing something crucial here, but alas, the disappointment and anticipation increased. Although, it may seem like a HEA. I got the feeling shit is about to hit the fan. Like the calm before a storm. I keep hearing that weird music from the soap opera Days of our Lives: “Like the sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives”. The author builds ridiculously high levels of tension, making me reach for emotional support, I’m never going to get while listening to this series. It sucked me into a maelstrom a f@#king whirlpool of confusion, violence, and destruction.

I recommend this series if you want to end up disoriented and mentally bruised.

Happy Listening

keeping me on the edge of my seat once again

again Jack has kept me on the edge of my seat with this amazingly entertaining story enjoyed it from beginning to the end and the narration by Dan was stop on in making this story jump off the page.

Sucks you in

and doesn’t let you go. Another awesome book in this series. I’ve stayed up way too late with these books but it’s so worth it. Highly recommend.

Dark and Murky

There was a lot going on this book and putting down my thoughts is going to be a challenge. I am still impacted when I think of Jan and Jack’s capture and subsequent torture and rape. Over and over they’d been abused and the psychological was as bad as the physical – although the physical was horrendous (Jack required surgery, for example). This all happened in Book 2 and Book 3 was the two men dealing with the aftermath. Gray is right there with them, of course, because he’s not only the third man in their triad, but often the backbone. Jan is ‘soft lad’ and Jack is ‘mukka’. Gray is the MI5 operative who holds everything together.

This book gives us a real insight into Jan and how he is – or is not – coping with the lingering effects of the captivity. Although he’d been mistreated, it was watching the horrific abuse heaped on Jack that has been truly eating away at his soul. He’s chosen an unproductive way of dealing with the memories and I could hardly blame him. But he’s about to come crashing down with Gray there to help. Jack’s there as well, but he’s got his own demons.

Jack has an alternate personality – Martin. Martin appeared briefly in the last book but is back big time in this story. His appearance always hurts me because I have an affinity for Jack and when Martin comes out, it’s usually to protect Jack in some way. Martin has vengeance on his mind – actions Jack would likely never partake in (which is saying something because he also has violence simmering just below the surface). As a warning, this is, again, a very violent book. There are also many many many different characters whose morality is often ambiguous. Even the clean and wholesome Jan isn’t all he appears to be.

There is a claiming in this story, showing just how serious the men are becoming in their relationship. I wonder sometimes if it’s so healthy for them to become so enmeshed. Is Jack really going to heal surrounded by violence? And his renunciation of the Master’s Circle was, I though, his way of stepping back from BDSM. This book proves otherwise.

Dare, Trace, and Gabe are visiting London from the States, there to try to help the triad of Jack, Jan, and Gray sort themselves out. Also for a bit of comic levity, which I appreciated. This book might not be quite as dark as Book 2, but there were definitely moments when I felt the weight. The description of desperate rats was enough to turn my stomach.

All that being said, I’m addicted to this series. This book ends with some things resolved and others up in the air. In other words, I can’t wait for the next book to come out on audio.

This is a mammoth story, clocking in at over 14 hours. Occasionally I felt it drag, but I enjoyed the pacing most of the time. There is a lot going on and none of the descriptions are scrimped upon. Dan Calley narrates this series and he’s perfect. His deep voice resonates yet he’s able to provide different voices for all the characters. His American accents are unique, to say the least. I am enjoying this series am waiting with bated breath for the next book.

Another amazing listen!

Just something about this series that I can't get enough. Jack, Grey and Jan's story has so much going on that I just couldn't stop listening. Jack L. Pyke has pulled into this story and I don't want to let go. Then Dan Calley has done such an amazing job bring everything to life. He does so many voices that I am just amazed. He makes this amazing story even better.

Excellent story. Excellent narration.

Jack, Gray, and Jan are still dealing with the aftermath of Antidote, the second book in this series. All the different plot threads are starting to connect into a fascinating web, and the web seems to be growing bigger.

The Don't book series inspired me to create an outline of what I consider to be a perfect book. The outline is to long for a review, but this book definitely qualifies as my perfect read/listen. Spies, assassins, psychological intrigue, intense emotional connections, character development, blood, sex, violence... The list of things that appealed to me was extensive.

The fluid manner in which Jack L. Pyke lays out words on a page is reflected in how amazing the narration sounds. Each character is given a distinct tone by both the author and the narrator.

If you enjoy an expertly written, dark psychological thriller about lovely and slightly twisted men that is narrated by an engaging voice, this is the perfect book.

A true love story amid sorry and healing

First as before I could not listening with all the pain and horror that happen to Grey, Jack and Jan this book takes up with trying to grow in strength, body and soul and finally reclaim that which was lost. I not saying this book is all lovey dubby the there still pain, horror and drug use but the three now work as a family to recover.
Also you meet new characters from England and the US and you start to see the many questions left open in book 3 about who was involved in the rape and torture of Jan and Jack and the why it was done and in the end you see the outcome of what happens to anyone who messes with Grey family.
But on a sad note you see the lost of Jack who is likeable, loveable and a big teddy bear but his otherside named Martin who is a psychopath, a user, but only exist to protect Jack and only comes out when Jack is hurting, needs to be protected and needs to hide. The one thing about Martin no one dares to be around Martin with someone else or he is sedated.
Now Dan the Narrator who I feels needs to be named The Man with One Million and One Character Voices. He does a ellecent and and element into the story that as a reader you are living the book as a play and Dan is the coordinator and performer. You find each character has their on individual voice and none is carried over when the characters change in thecstory.
I highly recommend this auibal series. Jack the author writes with feeling that as a listener you feel the story come alive. With this series she has written A #1 Series and made even better by having Dan there with her.

Keeps getting better and better

I’m always left with a serious book hangover when I finish one of Jack L. Pike’s books and it’s even more acute with the audiobook. I love the fast paced knife edge world Jack(Martin) Jan and Grey inhabit. There is so much to this book I feel like I need to listen to it again just to do it justice. It doesn’t hurt that I get to listen to Dan Calley’s lovely voice again either. This book is not only about finding out who was behind the attack on Jack and Jan but also about them being on the road to healing, finding each other again. Not easy especially if written by Jack L. Pyke. I love the hard fought for road in a story and this road is spiked.
Dan Calley is excellent as always and knows how to pitch it just right to keep me on the edge of my seat.

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