Dead Before Dark

By: Wendy Corsi Staub

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

A psychic and a serial killer play a cross-country game of cat-and-mouse in this thriller from the New York Times best-selling author of Kiss Her Goodbye.

The Night Watchman is ready to kill - again. After 35 years in prison, he is free to commit the same twisted atrocities that once made him as notorious as the Zodiac Killer and Jack the Ripper. Now, at last, his moment has come. 

Through her television appearances, renowned clairvoyant Lucinda Sloan helps police capture America's most wanted. Unfortunately, she's also captured the eye of the Night Watchman. Once he learns that Sloan "sees" his crimes, it's time to play. 

The first victim is someone she knows - a personal shock that brings the psychic closer to her ex-lover, Detective Randall Barakat. Then two more murders in Chicago and Denver make her realize that the Night Watchman is toying with her. Each victim wears a wristwatch bearing a message...and each message is a warning for Lucinda that she'll soon be the next to die.

©2019 Wendy Corsi Staub (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good Book With Some Issues

Let me start off by saying that I did very much enjoy this book. But I knocked a star off because of some formatting choices that I think the editors/author thought would enhance the listening experience, for me it was just distracting.
There were multiple perspective shifts in each chapter but rarely were they delineated in any understandable way. Perhaps it was meant to keep the listeners on our toes but mostly it was just frustrating.
You love the ones you are supposed to love & despise the ones you are meant to hate. The killer always makes me a little nervous. He is so methodical in his plan that it really makes you want to take a closer look at the people who are around you every day, this guy doesn't just pick someone at random & kill them- no he gets to know them first.

Emily Sutton-Smith was outstanding with the delivery of the story

Worst narrator ever

This was a predictable story line that could have been moderately interesting if it been read by a decent performer.
At the beginning I thought this was a computer generated read, as the narration was that stiff and stilted. Then I thought I must have the read speed messed up on my phone. Nope - just an incredibly poor performance. I do not recommend this story and will not listen to anything by this narrator again.

Awkward and Weird

This was about 14 hours too long. Bad writing and strange narration. So glad it was free!

Couldn't connect

Just couldn't connect with main character. I really tried to like her and the story, but I just couldn't. Too predictable and too much underlying back story drama to keep my interest. Maybe because it's unabridged.

Thrilling and suspenseful!

This book would make a great movie. I couldn’t stop listening. I replaced it with TV watching and listened to it as I went about my to do’s and finished it in about two days tops.

FWIW - the narrator does sound mechanical in the beginning but only for a few minutes. She then proceeds to do a great job performing each character/imitating the characters’ voice/tone and narrating.

I ended up rooting for the serial killer

The characters were so unlikable that, as I reached the end, my mind wandered, fantasising that the serial killer killed the whole lot of them.

Very disappointed

I do not know what I expected, but book was not something that I could enjoy or even follow. Did not like narrator, boring and just reading lines off of a page. Also, the story was so scattered, and could not figure out who was where. I tried through 10 chapters, kept thinking it would get better. It did not. I usually love my audiobooks, but this one was so very disappointing.

Little Disappointed

Was a very long book.. could’ve ended sooner then it did! Love her books but this one was too draggy!

Good story

Digging this writer. Like that she brought her characters back for this book. A bit slow in parts but good read.

Solid story...

It was a good story with many twists, kept my attention and left me wanting more. I hope she carries her character over into more stories.. I liked the psychic spin and helping on crime cases. I'd listen to more of that!

Fair to middling!!

Didn’t enjoy. Not what I expected. It was readable but not really my thing. Ok but nothing special

beige

this is long and boring, no twist, no turns, completely pointless, don't waste your time,

Good but a little long

Good story line but I almost lost my way as I found it a little long

Would recommend.

I really enjoyed this book,and the narration as well. Would recommend.it kept me interested from beginning to end

Excellent!!

I really enjoyed this book and plan to listen to more from the same author!

Another brilliant book.

This had me sitting on the edge of the chair near the end. Such a well written story & beautifully read. Thank you

Standard fare

It was as you would expect from the genre but entertaining nonetheless and I enjoy this narrator.

Good thriller

Can imagine this as an afternoon film - well read and good storytelling- good way to pass time

Kept me guessing

Wasn’t sure about the psychic element at first, then became absorbed and thoroughly enjoyed this.