Don't...: A Gay BDSM Thriller

By: Jack L. Pyke

Narrated by: Dan Calley

Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Don’t...bleed for me.” (The Unknown)

Saying "don’t" around Jack Harrison always did lead him into dangerous grounds on London streets. But now someone knows Jack’s head inside and out, and they’re about to twist all perception and lead him into an underground depravity that nearly sent him down in his youth. As Jack slips further into a dark psychological minefield, only two men offer different paths back to sanity: Gray, a man who knows Jack’s every dark thought, and Jan, the first man to show Jack a “soft lad” approach to head and heart. But with deadly games and ghosts bleeding through into Jack’s reality, it’s a fight to see who out of the three of them will survive long enough to find a way out of the vicious game played by someone known only as...the Unknown.

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

Fourth Read and Still Five Stars

This book had all of the characteristics of a Five star book. MM - check; Hot sex- check; BDSM - check; Dark Subject - check; Suspense - check; Romance - check: Ménage - check; HEA - check.

So, if you DON'T like hot, dark MM erotica, DON'T read this book. No, it's not the darkest book ever written but there is enough darkness to wet my appetite. It definitely starts you off with a, "WHO IS THAT VOICE?" All through the middle it's, "What the f*ck? DON'T do this to me!" You rapidly progress to, "No! DON'T do this now!" You end with, "I DON'T know who is in love with whom." You DON'T find that out until the end, as in any great book.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE DARK AND/OR BDSM MM READER. If you DON'T read this you DON'T know what your are missing!

(6/18/19) This book is lovely on audio. Dan did a wonderful job with these much-loved characters.

3 people found this helpful

Edge of my seat.

Now in the beginning of this story I was like what is going on. However as the story continue I just couldn't stop. So much is going on in the story and I was just at the edge of my seat. Now Dan Calley is a new narrated to me and I think he did a great job in bring this story to life. He definitely put me at the edge of my seat even more with just listening to this story.

1 person found this helpful

Simply Brilliant

I’ve been a fan of this series from the moment I read this first book five years ago. Now, re-edited and rereleased, it’s even better—if that possible. An incredible read. It’s thrilling, dark, sexy, sweet, and the BDSM/Ds elements are not only really well done, but also hot as hades! The voice actor, Dan Calley, does an absolutely incredible job. Utterly fantastic! I can't recommend this more.

1 person found this helpful

Amazing

This was so different than most of the romances out there! The world created was complete and captivating. The narrator was perfect. I have gone through all of the series available on Audible and I will go crazy until the next one. This is the kind of world you don’t want to leave!

Don't...Fall in Love With This Book (But I Did)

Don't is a book that left me on the edge of my seat. The story starts off a bit slow, but hang in there, it's completely worth it. The slow start helps to introduce the reader a variety of characters and provides the foundation of their personalities. From this foundation, the author continues to build and shape these characters into complex and intricate people. There are so many twists and turns in the plot. I stopped trying to figure things out and just went along with the story and enjoyed it. The sex scenes in this book were amazing, and so incredibly hot. The author holds nothing back when it comes to the sex scenes. I love BDSM and kink, so this book was perfect for me. I also really loved the world building the author did with the BDSM-centric Society of Masters.

I also listened to the audiobook which has Dan Calley as the narrator. He does a fantastic job of narrating all the different voices of the characters. I'm American, so it took me a little bit to get used to his British accent, but oh was his voice sexy and sultry. There was some ambient white noise in the background during some parts of the audiobook. It was very light, and did not interfere with the actual narration and I barely noticed it.

Overall, I would give this book 4.5 stars. Jack L. Pyke is a fantastic author and her writing was superb. I loved how much detail and though she put into the plot and characters. I can't wait to start on the second book.

Great Dark Listen

I enjoyed this narrator and this story. Both together make one delicious audiobook. It will be put on my list for relisten. This one is not and will never be for everyone it’s very dark and may contain abuse triggers.
I received a free copy of this and am voluntarily reviewing it.

I was given this book for an honest review

Unfortunately I couldn’t finish it. The narrator was lovely and breathed life into this so much I got halfway through. I think because I’m actually an active participant in the BDSM lifestyle, blatant disregard for the basics, (safe, sane, consensual) really offend me. And I can give allowances for fantasy, for learning curves with the characters. But there was so much actual abuse disguised as BDSM I couldn’t get into it. Also I know this is supposed to be a thriller, but lack of information doesn’t make it thrilling. You can have a thriller and still create scenes and give great detail. I had a really hard time even following the storyline.

I think with some major editing and rewrites I could have finished it and even gotten into it. I really wanted to like this, specially since the narrator was so wonderful. Alas I could not finish it

The most troubling relationship I've read

Jack L. Pyke is an extraordinary writer. Jack, the main character of Don't, is created with depth and texture and nuance, and so much nobility, that it's difficult not to care for him, to love him, and be scared of him, too. In that respect, I identify with Jan, his whatever Jan is--Dom, lover, neither, both. The plot is dark and twisted as many readers point out, though this isn't a psychological thriller in the vein of Silence of Lambs, not at all. It's a relationship thriller, I think, and may just be the best example of this odd genre imaginable. Before I send a volley at Jan--the single least worthy partner, lover, or anything else, in my opinion--let me say that the narration by Dan Calley is flawless. He's in the room, right in my ear, talking in a way that I forget this isn't real and I'm not part of it. Narration coupled with brilliant writing earns 5 stars from me, and they make this book worth the frustration that is Jan Richards. Where do I start without loading this review with spoilers? That's a tough one. He's petty, vindictive, humiliates Jack to make himself feel more secure. He's a coward. He hurts Jack emotionally and becomes indignant when Jack won't listen to his explanation--Jan did it to be better for Jack--so of course, revenge sex because, well, Jack deserves to hurt for not letting Jan do whatever he wants. But I think the worst part of Jan is his constant, from almost day one, reliance on "the stereotypes made me do it." Is he 14? Argh. I was screaming "Mercedes Benz" for Jack chapter after chapter.
The thing about this book is that if the writer wasn't hemmed in by the conventional HEA expectations of all of us readers, this book could have ended differently, and I'm hopeful by the end of the series, Jan will either be worthy of Jack or have slipped off the page for good. I'll keep reading because, well, I'm a stereotype I guess--an English major in a job that makes reading great books by great authors a must.

Couldn’t finish it

I stopped listening to this one. Might just be me, but as a west coast American, I could not understand the narrator and his British accent. Story made some confusing turns that caused me to lose interest.

Wow

Very original story. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. To the story’s credit it really puts you through the wringer. Wonderful narration I really enjoyed his performance.

Don’t......Put this at the top of your to buy list!

OMG! This is just the most perfect book for me. All my interests all rolled into one extremely well written, informed, sexy novel.
It’s a dark, psychological tension filled thriller with moderate elements of BDSM.
The complex storyline and well rounded characters draw you in right from the first chapter and play havoc with your emotions.
There are 3 MC’s, Jack who has OCD and owns his own garage, Jan who meets Jack when his car breaks down and struggles to fit in Jacks world, then there is the mysterious Gray, who has been in Jacks life for many years.
I especially loved Jacks character and felt great empathy for him.
I can’t wait for Antidote book 2 to be released on audio if it is planned.
As for the narration by Dan Calley it was absolutely awesome!
It’s the first time I have heard him narrate and the first time I have heard a British narrator that didn’t grate on me and I’m British.
All too often, for some reason, authors choose upper class British narrators to narrate their books and unless the storyline warrants this is so off putting. It’s so refreshing to listen to a ‘normal’ accent, in this case London accent, it makes the experience all the more satisfying.
I have often given 5 star reviews and they were well earned, however I really wish I could give this just that little bit extra!
Well done 👏👏👏👏

2 people found this helpful

DO listen to this audiobook

Wow, just wow. First off I am a massive fan of this series and Jack's writing, so when it was in audio, sign me up baby!

I've read the book more times than I care to remember, so to hear the characters speaking the words was amazing. From the first words being spoken I was hooked on Dan's voice, he really did a fantastic job of bringing this cast of characters to life. from the brashness of Jack H, the gentle 'soft lad' Jan and then Gray. I was driving when he first said the word "Don't" and let's just say it was very distracting! How I'd never realised he had such a gentle tone to his voice is a mystery to me, but knowing this character I was listening so intently to every word he spoke, hearing the way he exerts such control over a world that is sometimes so out of contro was amazing.

I am looking forward to hearing more from Dan and his amazing vocal talents in the rest of the series.

Can we keep him? PLEASE?!

1 person found this helpful

OMG

Wow.
Mind-Fucking at its best!

Ngl 3 hours in and I was still confused asf and even though I’ve lived in wales for about 12 years now, English isn’t my first language so I did have to read along sometimes while I listened.
BUT, fuck me once Caught on and everything started making sense,
I bloody well loved it!!

Can’t wait for book 2 to come out in audio.
And hopefully, it will be sooner, rather than later

5 holyshit-whatthefuck-just-happened stars ✨

1 person found this helpful

Terrific book with superb narration

Just finished and I’m missing Dan Calley‘s wonderfully smokey voice that’s smooth for Grey and rough for Jack. Perfect. I am a fan of this series. I love this psychological thriller with all the suspense and the twists and turns the story takes. Jack is a salt of the earth Londoner, tough but fair with a soft side for those he cares about. He falls for Jan and didn’t mean to pull him into the other part of Jack’s life. That of a Master Sub to Grey. Grey is a man of power and mystery.
With Dan Calley narrating it they all sound like I imagined. Jack is dark and gravelly, Grey is strong sure and smooth with Jan sort of in between. The narration suits the story so well that for me it’s like experiencing the excitement of the book all over again. I wish I could give more than five stars.
Now I’ve got to be patient and wait for Antidote to come out.

1 person found this helpful

Brilliant, and disturbing

If I can say one thing about this story it's that you won't have come across one like this before. It says its dark and psychological and its not wrong. It is also a brilliant story. The dark and disturbing part comes from the mental health disorders suffered by main character Jack Harrison. There is no gratuitous violence or deeply disturbing sexual practices, just normal violence and sexual practices ;-) It is a very well written and well paced story. I read it when it first came out and now, in audio, it is brought to life by the excellent narration of Dan Calley. He was a new to me narrator but he is one of those people who could read me the phone book. Perhaps its because he is, or at least sounds like, a native Londoner like myself. But as a Londoner whe has moved to Wales I can tell you his Welsh accent is pretty good too!
And on top of all this the book also has some comedy moments!
Basically all I can say is Don't...... listen to this book!
Cwtches

💚💜💙

I received this audiobook by the author and this is my honest opinion.💛
First of all before I even listened 🎶 to one word of this book, this would be a hard sale for me and had a mountain to climb to impress me as I don't really do audio books for the main fact is either they are not to my imagination or I just can't follow the story. But I had to try this one, I've loved💘 these characters from the start and for someone to actually breath and give voice to these stunning 😘characters was just too great a temptation for my abhorrent of being read too.
The moment I heard a gravelly cockney voice I was hooked, it was just like Jack had stepped off the page and was whispering in my ear, seductively, like😜. Grays voice was hubba hubba, with his Queens English toff voice💂. You knew it was one person bringing these voices to life yet he made each unique and separate from the others. It was funny really that when you read books yourself you tend to say a name how you think it sounds and then are completely surprised it is in fact said entirely different😀.
I wasn't a fan of Jans voice to begin with as it threw me out of what I was expecting but it grew on me. Likewise for Steve and Sam's voice. All in all I enjoyed listening to this story and it made me fall in love with these trio and surrounding characters.

Ooh surprised

I really enjoyed listening to this story, it had a suspenseful mix of everything.
I enjoyed the narrator Dan, he had a lovely rough dirty voice which was perfect for this. I loved the fact he said Arse most of the time but occasionally an Ass slipped in and English people sound wrong when they say Ass. Other than that thoroughly enjoyable.

New author and narrator

Wow how intriguing did not guess who was after Jack after all those years. Kept me on my toes. Really enjoyed it

A fab story elevated with great narration

I first read this series a long time ago & loved it, so I was really excited to listen to the audiobook. Dan Calley’s narration was excellent. Great gruff tone for Jack and other distinct voices for Gray and Jan. The fact that the narrator is British lends a depth of sincerity to the story. The pacing and timing were spot on and I was engrossed. I even seem to pick up on some elements I missed when reading first time round. I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the series. If you like your stories a little darker then this will definitely be right up your street. Highly recommended

Gripping

I'm new to audiobooks, and Don't... was an amazing introduction.

Story: well written and peopled with fully developed, complex characters. I really felt like I was able to get under the skin of the leads, Jack and Jan. The developing relationship was well handled and l loved the flow between them, showing both the flawed Jack and Jan to be multifaceted, displaying their strength and vulnerabilities. There is strong stuff in this book (or should I say audio) and the violence and sex is graphic but not gratuitous - it's all there for a reason and is integral to the plot and character development. This is a gripping story, and I am keen to accompany these two on their journey (and Grey, too, but you'll need to listen to this to find out more about this intriguing and equally compelling character).

Narration: excellent. Each character had a distinct voice (as in actual voice). Dan Calley really did the work justice and was truly an inspired choice to narrate this strong, gritty book.

Highly recommended.