Afraid of the Dark

By: James Grippando

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author's ever-popular hero, Jack Swyteck, is on his most dangerous case yet, uncovering a sinister underground world that has him racing across the globe.

Then: Sergeant Vince Paulo held his best friend's daughter, McKenna, bleeding in his arms as she uttered the name of her murderer and ex-boyfriend, Jamal. That was minutes before a blast made everything go black for Vince - forever.

Now: Miami criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck has been called in to save Jamal from the death penalty for terrorist activity. Despite urgent warnings from his fiancee, undercover FBI agent Andie Henning, to stay away from the case, Jack finds himself inextricably drawn to Jamal's past - even believing his alibi that he was abducted and held in a black site in Prague at the time of McKenna's death. But if Jamal is innocent, then the man who murdered McKenna and took Vince's sight is still out there... free.

Soon bodies begin to pile up and ghosts from the past reappear very much alive, confirmed by ominous threats from a faceless man known only as "the Dark." Vince and Jack must confront a mortal danger that goes beyond McKenna's death, across international waters - a journey to piece together the past that leads through the back alleys of London, onto illegal Internet sites, and straight into the mind of pure evil.

©2011 James Grippando (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Exciting!

Keeps you on the edge. so many twists and turns!! you won't want to put it down.

A Little Cognitive Dissonance

As always with this series, I thought the story was excellent and the narration by Jonathan Davis amazing. My headline pertains to the character of Vince Paulo. He initially appeared as a significant figure in “When Darkness Falls” (book 6) and, while leaving Paulo’s post-injury personality intact, the author decided to change his backstory. Assuming Grippando didn’t intend to introduce the sci-fi element of a multiverse, I wanted to bring up this discrepancy so listeners of the series will know it’s coming and not let it detract from this riveting story through distraction.

A little Slow/Dry for me, But a good book.

Would you try another book from James Grippando and/or Jonathan Davis?

Yes, Seems to be a good author to fill in the gaps when i am waiting for other books.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the book, it didnt have me hooked though. Narrator did a Great job!

Great story and plot but a little convoluted

I liked this book and Grippando kept me hooked throughout. My only criticism is there were too many elements to comfortably follow. These elements were ultimately tied together but if would have been difficult for me to keep track of all of them had I not taken only about one week to complete this 12+ hour listen. I've met the author and consider him a casual acquaintance. He is also a Facebook friend. We both went to the University of of Florida and have common acquaintances. I also profiled him in a magazine I edited, probably about 20 years ago. I wish he would have kept the story threads a bit simpler. With those minor criticisms aside, the book was a great listen and well worth the Audible credit. Good job, James.

Smart Writing, Great Narration

Great characters, clever narrative, a complicated and exciting story, wonderful writing and perfect narration make this another home run for Grippando. This novel, like all in the Swyteck series stands on its own merit. I have read five installments and none in sequence.

This story is complicated because Grippando takes into the dark worlds of surveillance, human trafficking, private military firms and Islamic terrorism. Thankfully it Is written with great clarity and authenticity. As the mystery unravels the suspense grows.

I realize Audible’s audiences are diverse and extremely well read. No author can please all of us. But if you are a fan of suspense like I am, James Grippando is the hidden treasure we have been looking for. Certainly many people are familiar with him, but thanks to two fellow Tar Heel reviewers, Wayne and Shelly, I have become a huge admirer of his work.

I read many of your reviews before I purchase a novel. In fact, I hold listener reviews far higher than professional reviewers. If this review is helpful, I would appreciate you acknowledging it!

Not real

This is a very difficult plot to follow on audiobook. Sometimes you need to go back and figure out who the characters are. Also the story is hard to conceive.

Written with lots of action

Either it would make a good movie, or was written that way. Either way, Jack sure got himself in trouble this time!

great read with a lott of surprises along the way

Would you listen to Afraid of the Dark again? Why?

no i wouldnt but it was fantastic when i first listened to it

What did you like best about this story?

i liked how it starts out a crime novel then turns into a mystery then turns into a terrorist story with each added new element the story blended beautifuly and the twists and turns brought quit a few surprises along the way i really enjoyed it a lott.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

first time i heard him he was great i enjoyed his voice he made the story come alive

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the begining and ending and many other moments along the way just an amazing book its worth a listen.

Another great novel from James Grippando.

Another great novel from James Grippando. Can't wait for the new releases later this year.

Moral Subject

Glad this was a 2 for 1 sale, not my fave of this author, but I love narrator Jonathan Davis, and he doesn’t do all that many mysteries so I take what I can get. This author is so hit and miss on his material. It is my fault as I am reading out of order!!! I finally realized that author, chooses the moral dilemma of the time to make his story relevant. Don’t get me wrong, very well written and edited, I was just not prepared for this one, way too dark for me, but 2/3 through, it finally clicked as it did for our hero Jack. I will finish the series as I work backwards. You can see the maturity that Jack gains in newer books, hence the author too.
Were my comments of help?