When Darkness Falls (Swyteck) (Mass Market Paperback)

by James Grippando (Author)
Key Phrases: mobile command center, James Grippando, Sergeant Paulo, Theo Knight (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A tense hostage crisis in Miami propels the action in bestseller Grippando's solid sixth thriller to feature criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck (after Got the Look). Jack represents an armed homeless man known as Falcon, who takes among his hostages in a seedy motel Jack's best friend, Theo Knight, an innocent man the lawyer once pulled off death row at the last minute. Vincent Paulo, the recently blinded negotiator, has been dating the one person Falcon insists on talking with, police officer Alicia Mendoza, who also happens to be the mayor's daughter. With strands reaching back to Argentina's dirty war, the plot relies heavily on coincidence, but engaging characters, notably the blind Vincent ("People either pity me to death and think that I can't possibly manage a minute of my life without a sighted person holding my hand, or they think I've been magically transformed into some kind of blind mystic with extrasensory powers"), will help readers overlook the implausibilities. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
If Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck thinks his latest case is weird, he ain't seen nothin' yet. His client, a homeless man who calls himself Falcon, posts $10,000 bail in cash. That has Jack scratching his head, but when a body is found in the trunk of the abandoned car that Falcon calls home, Jack is prepared to go to the mat to defend his client--until, that is, Falcon kidnaps Jack's best friend, and Jack is propelled into an investigation that pushes his abilities to the limit. Although previous Swyteck novels have not been as compelling as most of Grippando's stand-alone thrillers, the series is solid and reliable. This one, which delves into the mystery of the Disappeared, the 30,000-plus Argentineans who (because of their opposition to the military regime) vanished between 1975 and 1983, is deeper than its predecessors. And that's good, because Grippando is at his best when he's telling a story that's more than a mere whodunit. The novel feels darker, more dramatic, than the previous Swyteck adventures, and it's by far the best in the series. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Harper (November 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060831146
• ISBN-13: 978-0060831141
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable, Rich, and Cleverly Addictive, January 9, 2007

By	Greta L. Hudson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: When Darkness Falls (Hardcover)

Attorney Jack Swyteck agrees to represent Falcon, a homeless man who stops traffic for hours when he stands on a bridge and threatens to jump--his only demand, to speak to the Mayor's daughter, police officer Alicia Mendoza. Falcon comes to an agreement with hostage negotiator Vincent Paulo, but is soon captured. Jack's less than grateful client manages to make bail and is on the run after a dead woman is found in the trunk of a car he calls home. Jack soon finds himself in the middle of a hostile situation where Falcon has taken his best friend, Theo, and a woman hostage. Jack, with the help of Paulo, Alicia, and several law enforcement agencies jockeying for jurisdictional command, must race to meet the demands of an unstable man to save his friend. What's revealed are dark secrets that stretch from Argentina, the Bahamas, to Miami's political elite.

Miami's rich setting is a character of its own with diverse culture, rich cuisine and changing weather that sets the tone and raises the stakes in this adrenaline-charged thriller. The characters and scenes are made even more vivid through the experiences of a blind man, Sergeant Vincent Paulo, not because of the strength of his other senses, but because of his insight and skill as an experienced hostage negotiator. Even Falcon proves to be not your typical monster. He's likable despite his absurd demands and acerbic wit. There is also enough humor weaved throughout to ease the tension on the volatile situation.

This is one high-powered thrill ride. The more pages I turned, the more I craved. Grippando knows how to grab your attention and keep it. Be prepared to devour this in one sitting because once you turn the cover, Grippando has you! Excellent!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Keeps Getting Better and Better, January 8, 2007

By	R. Johnson "Avid Reader" (Nashua, New Hampshire) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: When Darkness Falls (Hardcover)

I won't write a synopsis as it has been done quite well by the previous reviewer. I have read all of Mr. Grippando's books and find they get better and better with each new book. This new story of Jack Swyteck and Theo is indeed a book you will not put down - I didn't until 6:00 a.m. the next morning. The tension is there along with the bits of humor that Mr. Grippando does so well. I'm not sure why he's not on the best seller list, but I can assure you that once you starting reading his books, you will not want to miss any of them. It is my understanding, like many of today's terrific authors, he is also writing books for young adults. Even though that does not describe me, I'm going to pick them up as well. Give yourself a treat and pick up this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never a Dull Moment in This Book !, February 22, 2007

By	Regina L. Utz (Kalona, IA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: When Darkness Falls (Hardcover)

When Darkness Falls" does not disappoint. Love the friendship between Theo and Jack. And it is 11:21 PM central time just couldn't put the book down. The complex weave of nationalities, history, the sighted vs. the blind and other colorful threads entwined make for the story to be told most pleasurable and a "hold your breath" novel. Grippando, is an author, who writes for the pure joy of telling a rich story rather than churning out nonsense books for making a buck: what a delightful gift for the reader.