The Unkind Hours

By: Dwayne Alexander Smith

Narrated by: Tom Jordan

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Steven Burns, a former major league baseball player, has the perfect life...until his five-year-old daughter is abducted and murdered. With zero suspects, the police are left baffled, and Steven must accept the haunting loss without justice. Until a shadowy stranger offers Steven an opportunity to exact ultimate revenge. Compelled by fury and grief, Steven finds the stranger’s unspeakable proposition impossible to resist, despite fears he's headed down a path of no return.

©2018 Dwayne Smith (P)2018 Dwayne Smith

Unkind Hours

Very tense and unpredictable. Never slow in action or suspense. This does not go the way you expect. There are surprises each and every page. Narration is great.

Don't Hesitate. Use the Credit. Do It.

This was a great story, both the story telling and the writing. I picked this story because of the subject matter, as a father, this scenario is unimaginable and the suspense and thrill of seeking justice is in my mind the greatest reason to seek justice. Everything about this story was a thrill ride and anyone who likes a suspenseful revenge story will be sure to enjoy this.

As I said, as a father the seeking of justice for a killed child is absolute. The emotional wreck Steven became after he lost his daughter was immense. The writing truly described in detail how I would handle the loss and made me feel Steven’s pain. I didn’t always see what was going to happen next, and I was definitely kept on my toes. The first half of the story was an emotional journey which took me through all the stages of grief. The second half was pure raw emotion that settled on one stage and carried that through to the end. There was a lot of twists in the second half and I really liked how this spans a good period of time so you get to see a good piece of Steven’s life and recovery.

The writing was so well done that you get not only a good story, but good characters. In the brief time we see Luna and Steven together you get our close their relationship is and it pains you just as much when she dies. I kept waiting for something magical to happen to help ease my pain as well as Steven’s. I really liked Steven as a character and think he was portrayed quite realistically. I liked how his friend was a voice of reason that in his anguish he just couldn’t listen to. The mysterious stranger is the perfect antagonist. He is smart and calculating while seeming benign, up until he isn’t.

Tom Jordan does a great job with the narration. He really did this story justice with his narration and character voices. He nailed the voice for the stranger and provided a subtle creepy and raspy voice that matched that character perfectly. Tom really brought this story to life and passes on the characters emotions such that you feel them yourself. Truly a great performance that shouldn’t be passed up.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Best 8 and a half hours!

Dwayne Alexander Smith! You are a rascal - yes you are! What a book. Once I'd started listening last night, I got this warm feeling all over; I knew it was going to be special. Big problem, in the evenings Mr Melanie likes me to sit with him, he likes us to be 'together'! But I wanted to listen to The Unkind Hours so I feigned a headache and took myself off to bed. Talk about bedded bliss; Tom Jordan whispering in my ears all night. One of the best nights I've ever had in my marital bed, I can tell you! (Too much sharing?). Then today, just as I'm listening to a really pertinent section, the book cuts out because my phone is ringing, (I was listening via my smartphone) and it's Mr Melanie, phoning to see how I am. What is wrong with the man? Yes I went to bed early the night before with a 'headache' but no, I don't need checking up on the next day, when I'm listening to my book. I told him in no uncertain terms what I thought of all this caring and sharing business and to just leave me alone! And you know what? I'm not even sorry. I'm not because The Unkind Hours is breathtaking. Every time the right indicator starts flashing and you acknowledge that the book's going to take a right turn, Mr Smith turns left! Nothing happens when you think it's going to, no one is who you think they are and if night didn't follow day it would seem perfectly reasonable. This book has reignited my fire for audio books. I adore them but was feeling they were all a bit same old, same old. Then you get The Unkind Hours, rising head and shoulders above anything else I've listened to in a long while.
Let's talk about the narrator, Tom Jordan. That voice, it's like have melted Galaxy chocolate poured all over you and then licked off by kittens with silken tongues. My knees were weak and wobbly from that voice. I could listen to Mr Jordan all day, every day, (all I need to do is work a bit harder on my plan to abduct him and keep him locked up in my basement. Oh yes, I need to dig out a basement first - so much to do).
This is a bit like the chicken and the egg situation for me. Is the brilliant writing enhanced by the superb narration or is the superb narration enhanced by the brilliant writing? Answers on a postcard to: Mrs I'm Blown Away with How Fantastic The Unkind Hours Is, Tom Jordan Appreciation Lane, Dwayne and Tom #TeamPerfection, UK. Thank you

The Unkind Hours

The Unkind Hours is a thrill ride full of "what would I do" moments that are provocative and terrifying. It makes you pause and do some scenario that may or may not happen.

Great Listen

The story made me cringe repeatedly and yet coupled with the fantastic narration I couldn't turn it off

I hated the ending!!

This wasn’t a really good book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I wish the ending had been different though.

A Ear Jerker

OMG! OMG! I loved it…the narrator was great! So suspenseful…just when I thought it was predictable I was wrong…lol I found myself fussing at the character…lol Now I can’t decide which is best between this one and “Forty Acres”…When’s the next one?

amazing story!!! and great narration!

As a dad the beginning killed me . But in a good way. it's so deep and draining , it really pulls you in. The story just gets better and better from there. Great book, I'm really a fan of this guy.

Loved this story

I enjoyed this story. The narrator was great. I found the voice very soothing and relaxing.

Great Read!

I'm gonna be honest. I wasn't in love with the main character. His stubborn ways irritated me, though I understood. But this stubbornness has me wavering on how fast I finished the book. I felt it had a slow start, but man when that hook came, I was stuck! Great read. I really enjoy Smiths stories. looking forward to the next one!

Tense

I am still reeling after finishing this book. A difficult topic and an impossible decision. Steve Bate’s daughter is abducted and murdered but how far will he go to seek retribution? There is a feeling of unease throughout the story - is everything as it seems. The final chapters are full of stomach clenching tension.

The story lives up to the blurb!

The blurb for this novel is very enticing, and I’m pleased to say the story lives up to the blurb. Steven Burns has the chance to come face to face with his child’s abductor, but why? And how? This is a tense ride with thrills and spills, and enough surprises to keep you reading (or in my case, listening). I always enjoy a book where I cannot even begin to guess how things are going to play out, and this hit the mark for me.

I believe Dwayne Alexander Smith is a professional screenwriter, and if so, that makes a lot of sense. The story is very well-crafted and keeps you glued to your seat, and the narration by Tom Jordan is excellent.

Rollercoaster ride of a story

After listening to the first few chapters of this novel, I knew that I was hooked!

The characters are so well written that they came to life and I found myself on several occasions getting quite emotional over the circumstances that they were going through.

Dwayne Alexander Smith has written a riveting thriller full of twists and turns that left me breathless. You think you know where this story is going and then Dwayne takes you completely in a different direction.
The author skilfully builds the atmosphere so that the reader/listener actually feels the tension building and the narration of Tom Jordan brings so much more to the novel; giving a voice to the pain and anguish that the characters are going through.
When I wasn't listening to this novel, I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and what would happen next.

A clever roller coaster ride of a thriller but also so much more than that. An audio book that will stay with me for a long time.

Great book

What would you do if you could exact revenge on your daughters killer? This audio book keeps you hooked from beginning to end. With great narration it immerses you in the story. Steven Burns is offered the ultimate opportunity, what happens if he takes it, what will the consequences be and can he live with himself. Full of twists and turns, when you just think you know what happens something else surprises you and the story turns in a different way. With a great ending this was one of the best audio books I've listened to recently.

Loved it, so tense!!

The Unkind Hours By Dwayne Alexander Smith
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the storyline, it was different to anything I've read before. Tom Jordan did and excellent job narrating this book and holding the tension.
This book drew me in from the start and I had to keep listening to see how it would end.
This book had me thinking what i would do in this situation, any book that has you question your morals is good!
Great story, great narrator, great tension.
Loved it.

Brilliant

A complete mind journey!
This did not go as my brain was thinking it would at all. Absolutely brilliant. Completely threw me off course.
My heart was aching, my brain was battered.
Just wow. Weaves so well with the characters & the reasons behind things. Can’t even put into words.
Narrator was fab, the voice of the stranger, creepy & brilliant.
Just fab!

Wow wow wow

Wow!!! Seriously I was blown away by this audio not only is this a great story but the performance of Tom Jordan was also second to none. This is at times a painful listen due to the storyline but if your child was brutally murdered what would you do for revenge and regardless of your choices how do you live with such a horrific event. For Steven Burns this is the situation he finds himself in after he looses his beloved daughter. What proceeds is a dark and intense story of love, hate and revenge that had me on the edge of my seat and with my stomach in my mouth.

wow !!

I listened to this book in 2 sittings. I can't even tell you how many twists are going to come at you. I normally don't like reading any stories on kids abduction etc. But it's all about the aftermath and not to much information on the horrible stuff. It really had me hook, lined and sinker. 5 well deserved stars

Wow! What a powerful thriller!

Well, I’m nearly speechless after listening to this book! Dwayne Alexander Smith Really knows how to write a story that takes you breath away. What a clever twisted plot. It is nothing like your run of the mill thriller. So atmospheric in the appropriate places, building the tension expertly. And then so convincing in the clever way he twists what you think you know about the characters, till you don’t know who the good guy actually is. Those characters are so well portrayed, they’ll stay with me for a long time. I’d Love for there to be a follow up to this story. It’s been a long time since I didn’t want a book to end, but this is one I could have listened to fo another ten hours. Just sorry now that I finished it in two sessions. If like me, you avoid books that are about hurting children, don’t be put off by the outline of the story, it may hinge on a child abduction, but it moves on quickly to the repercussions of that act. This is another author I have to read all o his works. Did I say I was speechless? Well nearly,

Dark!

Very well written with twists and turns all the way. Excellent plot, had me wanting more