Customer Reviews

After Dark (Zebra Romantic Suspense)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Fifteen years ago Johnny Mack Cahill left his hometown of Noble's Crossing, Alabama, vowing to never return. Johnny settled in the Houston area and became a successful wealthy businessman. Now Johnny has received an anonymous note from his hometown, stating: "Your son needs you. Come home." Johnny never knew he had a child, but the accompanying picture from a newspaper article is that of a younger him. The mother being Lane Noble Graham also mystifies him since she is the only magnolia he failed to score with during his time in town. Finally, he cannot believe that Lane is the prime suspect in the murder of her former spouse as the article also says.

Johnny returns to Noble Crossing to meet his son and to learn the truth about who the biological mother is, who sent the note, and who killed Kent. As he begins his search for answers, a killer will murder again to keep certain secrets hidden. As his love for Lane rekindles and she reciprocates, he remains stubbornly convinced that she is too good for him.

AFTER DARK is an exciting southern romantic suspense tale. The story line is fast-paced as the mystery supplements a wrong side of the track romance. The support cast adds depth, atmosphere, and dark secrets to the stirring plot. The lead couple is the typical "good girl bad boy" mix yet Beverly Barton brings a feel of freshness to that theme in this engaging book.

Harriet Klausner

After Dark is packed with secrets that keep you turning the pages. Just when you think you know whom the killer is, Ms. Barton changes your mind. This is a must read for the Romantic Suspense lovers. It grabs you and won't let go.

The hero, Johnny Mack Cahill is every woman's dream who likes that "Bad Boy" image who makes good. Lane Noble Graham is the perfect heroine to every female who has ever sat on the sidelines and been left out.

Both Lane and Johnny Mack exceed their circumstances and come into their own. Johnny Mack becomes as rich as his persecutors and turns the tables on them. He returns wheeling as much power as they do. They can no longer best him.

It's a success story packed with suspense and secrets and most important of all a love to die for. A warm relationship builds and glows between the three main characters that you will become a part of. You do not want to miss this one. It's wonderful to curl up with next to a lit Christmas tree during the holidays. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could not put this story down until I found out every detail, but I hated for it to end.

Beverly Barton is one of those authors I buy because of her name. It's not to often that she disappoints. Certainly not with this book. It was great.

Johnny Mack is summoned back to his home town by a letter telling him his son is in trouble. As he left town after someone tried to kill him, he has no knowledge of what has happened there, and he surely knows nothing about a son.

Arriving in town he discovers that one of his old flames was pregnant when he left. But the kicker is that his son was adopted at birth by the only woman he has ever loved. Not that he has ever told her. He respected her to much to touch her.

Now she is the chief suspect in the death of her abusive husband.
They had been divorced for several years. She only married him so she could save Johnny Mack's son.

During the 15 years he has been gone, Johnny has turned his life around and is a multi-millionaire. In a town where he was known as a piece of trash, the same people who hated him before, hate him now.

Facing the woman who has never forgotten him and his son is a new experience for a man who has kept himself seperate from emotional ties.

The search for the killer and the ties that remain from his past, lead us through a very unhappy childhood and finally to the actions that have lead up to these murders.

All in all a very good read.

In her first romantic suspense novel, Beverly Barton tells the story of Johnny Mack Cahill, a redeemable bad boy in AFTER DARK. Set in the small town of Noble's Crossing, the streets roll up after dark leaving a quiet, sleeping town. Nothing wild goes on -- at least in public. Indeed, Noble's Crossing's secrets go on behind closed doors and mostly after dark.

Everyone in town knew that Johnny Mack Cahill was John Graham's illegitimate son, making him Kent Graham's half-brother. Fifteen years ago Kent hated his half-brother with a passion only matched by his determination to marry Lane Noble. When Kent found out about Lane's crush on Johnny Mack, he arranged for his half-brother's murder. Beaten nearly to death by Sheriff Buddy Lawler and his thugs, Johnny Mack was thrown into the cold waters of the Chickasaw River. Only Lane's discovery of his nearly dead body on the river's shore saved his life.

Johnny Mack returns to Noble's Crossing when an anonymous letter arrives stating that he has a son. He's stayed away from Noble's Crossing for fifteen years, but learning that he has son and that Lane stands accused of Kent's murder brings him back. Johnny Mack quickly discovers that fourteen year-old Will's life has been formed by lies, one stacked neatly on top of the next.

A dying woman's letter to adopted father Kent tore Will's world to shreds, revealing not only his adoption, but that his birth father is none other than Johnny Mack. Kent couldn't forgive the boy for being Johnny Mack's son. Nor could he forgive Lane for orchestrating the adoption of Johnny Mack's child.

Johnny Mack can't be scared off. He can't be run off. And he can't be bought off. He doesn't play by the rules and these days he's the one who always wins. Four years of college and eight years of sharing a compassionate man's home had polished Johnny Mack's rough edges, giving him the ability to pass himself off as a gentleman.

Edith runs Noble's Crossing, declaring that it is her town, her county and her state. Johnny Mack may be a big shot in Texas, but in Noble's Crossing he's still white trash with money. When her son Kent has been dead for two weeks, Edith persuades the DA to take the case to the grand jury. Further, she demands that the DA get a capital murder indictment against Lane. Edith wants Lane punished for her son's murder, she wants Will protected, and she wants Johnny Mack to learn that she still rules Noble's Crossing.

AFTER DARK present a chilling account of small town intrigue. Beverly Barton presents the hidden motivations of each character with precision, creating a twisting plot line that keeps the pages turning. Indeed, the characters are multi-dimensional and realistic while acting in a believable and consistent manner....

As a hugely popular category romance author, Beverly Barton has proven herself supremely skilled at creating small, scandal-ridden southern towns and three-dimensional southern characters. Her first single title romantic suspense novel lives up to her established readership's expectations, and then some. The atmospheric setting enhances the intrigue, and the rekindled romance is ultra-passionate. My guess is that the disappointed reviewers were looking for a straight suspense novel, rather than a romantic suspense novel, which is a genre in itself. This is a terrific romantic suspense read, and I can't wait to pick up Beverly's next one!

Houston millionaire Johnny Mack Cahill returns to his white trash roots in Noble's Crossing, Alabama when he receives an anonymous letter advising that he needs to get back home because his son needs him, along with a picture of the one girl in Noble he never bedded down, Lane Noble. She is divorced from Kent Graham, a guy from the right side of the tracks who is now dead, and Lane stands accused of his murder.

When Johnny Mack returns to his hometown, all the polish and money in the world cannot erase his humble beginnings in the townspeople's eyes. But one look at Lane's child and he's certain that he is indeed his son, and soon discovers that Will was adopted. As he sets about helping Lane beat the murder rap and get to know his son, adversity is around every corner, and he suspects that Lane might be covering for Will. Even calling in hot shot attorney Quinn Cortez (from the later "Killing Her Softly," cannot guarantee her freedom, as someone doesn't want Lane to go free, and will stop at nothing including murder to see that justice is not served.

Barton's steamy romantic thriller is a little predictable at times, but Barton's skill at weaving an intricate romantic web keep the story from becoming too maudlin. This novel is a re-release of earlier material, but a nice palate cleanser for readers getting a little tired of the Powell series.

After Dark is a can't-put-down read. Compelling characters, beautiful language and Ms. Barton's storytelling skills make it a pleasure to read--especially if you love hot Southern suspense! Don't miss this one!

Houston millionaire Johnny Mack Cahill returns to his white trash roots in Noble's Crossing, Alabama when he receives an anonymous letter advising that he needs to get back home because his son needs him, along with a picture of the one girl in Noble he never bedded down, Lane Noble. She is divorced from Kent Graham, a guy from the right side of the tracks who is now dead, and Lane stands accused of his murder.

When Johnny Mack returns to his hometown, all the polish and money in the world cannot erase his humble beginnings in the townspeople's eyes. But one look at Lane's child and he's certain that he is indeed his son, and soon discovers that Will was adopted. As he sets about helping Lane beat the murder rap and get to know his son, adversity is around every corner, and he suspects that Lane might be covering for Will. Even calling in hot shot attorney Quinn Cortez (from the later "Killing Her Softly," cannot guarantee her freedom, as someone doesn't want Lane to go free, and will stop at nothing including murder to see that justice is not served.

Barton's steamy romantic thriller is a little predictable at times, but Barton's skill at weaving an intricate romantic web keep the story from becoming too maudlin.

I haven't read this author previously and the book was a disappointment. I will not reiterate the plot as it is well synopsed by previous reviewers. The mystery of who done it and the shocking "secret" were blatantly obvious by the first 100 pages. I read the end to confirm my hunches and tossed the book. The book is a series of cliches, the sex was sleazy, the language grating at times, and the atmosphere non- existent. The author would do well to read early Sandra Brown and Tami Hoag for suspenseful, sultry, southern mystery.

This book was a real disappointment to me. I am proud to be a southerner, but the people in this book are portrayed to be sweltering sexaholics. I enjoy my mysteries as more mystery than romance. You can see the "secrets" coming way too early and there are not enough suspects to keep you guessing until the end. However, if you enjoy mindless drivel served up as "romantic suspense" this book is for you. My copy will be waiting for you at the local used book store.