Customer Reviews

The Darkness

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I spent a good deal of time thinking about why this novel didn't make a greater impression on me, as it has several of the elements that I often like. First and foremost, the plot is original and offers some features that go beyond the usual crime novel. The New York City setting is well rendered and credibly depicted and the characters, while not deeply memorable, are realistic. The dialog isn't especially good and often seems stilted, as though no real person would ever actually speak the lines that author Jason Pinter puts in their mouths. But that doesn't seem to be the major barrier keeping me from recommending this book.

After mulling it over awhile, I decided that the big problem with The Darkness is that it doesn't really stand on its own as a story that is separate from Pinter's series of books that feature news reporters Jack O'Donnell and Henry Parker. Pinter seems to assume that readers of this novel have previously read The Fury, a book about the drug wars of the 1980s when crack cocaine was devastating lives all over the city. Apparently, that novel introduced the main characters and established the relationship that exists between them. So in The Darkness Pinter fails to adequately sketch the nuances of the relationship between O'Donnell and his younger counterpart, Parker. This leaves readers at sea because we don't have enough information to fully appreciate the exchanges that take place between O'Donnell and Parker in this later book, not to mention many of the plot details.

So if you plan on reading The Darkness, I recommend that you read the earlier books in the series first, especially The Fury. Then you may find that this novel rates higher than 3 stars for you.

The Darkness by Jason Pinter

This is the fifth book in the Henry Parker series.
The Darkness picks up the storyline from "The Fury," where Henry's new-found brother is the victim of a drug related murder.
As an aside; Jason Pinter wrote a free, short ebook, "The Hunters," which augments the storyline of Henry Parker after "The Fury," but before "The Darkness." A good quick thriller read for those of us who are fans and a nice way for newbies to see what his writing is like. It also includes a little tidbit regarding "The Darkness."
In "The Darkness," Henry Parker is again working with Jack, a veteran in the newspaper business who Henry looks up to.
Paulina Cole is working at the rival paper and although not a very likeable character, she makes for an interesting addition to the storyline.

Amanda, Henry's girlfriend, is back too . While worrying about Henry, she is supportive and is great for Henry to bounce his ideas and thoughts off of.

I think the characters here are really thought out and three dimensional and are realistically portrayed.

The plot is interesting and different, but well played out, which makes the story accelerate for an enjoyable thrill ride.
The writing is good, suspenseful and even though violence is prevalent throughout, it isn't overdone and makes the story action packed. Pinter is slated for at least two more Henry Parker novels and I look forward to finishing out the series.

New York Gazette reporter Henry Parker encouraged by Jack O'Donnell investigates the murder of the former's previously unknown half-brother Stephen Gaines by apparently the drug kingpin The Fury. After confronting Henry's dad re a sibling he never knew existed until just before the homeless Stephen's death (see The Fury), the journalists seek to identify the Fury though no one seems to know who he is as they walk the mean streets of Manhattan seeking clues.

Their first lead is the crushed body of a victim found with bones plummeted to almost fine sand floating in the East River. The Fury is sending a warning to those seeking to destroy him and his empire. However, the corpse fails to deter Henry from his quest as he follows up with whatever leads the deceased left behind when his skeleton was whole.

The latest Henry Parker investigation (see THE STOLEN, THE MARK and GUILTY) is a terrific suspense laden thriller with the personal twist adding depth to the hero who obsesses over the destruction of the Fury. The super story line is fast-paced from the recovery of the broken body but must be read after perusing THE FURY, the first half of a duology.

Harriet Klausner

THE DARKNESS, Jason Pinter's new Henry Parker novel, comes blessedly hard on the heels of THE FURY, with just a few months separating the two. While both titles are complete in and of themselves, the rapid succession of their releases --- as well as their subject matter --- makes them read more like one giant work than two separate, albeit connected, novels.

THE FURY introduced Parker, an up-and-coming newspaper reporter, to Stephen Gaines, the brother he never knew he had and who he lost all too quickly after finally meeting him. It also acquainted readers with 718 Enterprises, a shadowy, enigmatic corporation with an admittedly ingenious method of distributing street drugs across midtown Manhattan in plain view. THE DARKNESS picks up where THE FURY left off and includes a number of twists and turns to make the brief wait between books a worthwhile one indeed.

Jack O'Donnell, Parker's journalistic idol and mentor, suddenly returns to the newsroom, flush with newly acquired though hard-earned sobriety and a readiness to work. Parker has just the case to get O'Donnell's sea legs back underneath him. The two almost immediately find themselves on the scene of the aftermath of a murder, the victim of which had ties to Parker's late brother. Their investigation ultimately leads them back to the headquarters of 718 Enterprises, which has quietly and mysteriously pulled up stakes. They are undaunted, and indeed, the newly sober teacher still has a few things left to bequeath to the student with respect to the art of ferreting out information from unwilling sources. While O'Donnell's rough-edged, no-nonsense methods of tutelage are not quite what one might expect, they certainly are effective --- so much so, in fact, that they inadvertently put Parker on the scene of a story and make him a part of it.

In the meantime, the narrative follows Morgan Isaacs, a former Wall Street trader whose liabilities far outweigh his assets. His recruitment by 718 is the answer to his prayers. As THE FURY alternates between Parker and O'Donnell's dogged investigation and Issacs's initial job assignments, one acquires a picture of a meticulously thought-out and executed network for the delivery of illegal drugs that is worth the price of admission alone.

And if the foregoing wasn't interesting enough, Paulina Cole is interjected into the mix in an extremely interesting and dangerous way. O'Donnell's nemesis and a reporter for a rival newspaper, Cole embarrassed O'Donnell badly by splashing his problems with alcoholism across the front page. So it is ironic that Cole must turn to Parker for help when she finds herself blackmailed by 718. Despite his instinctive dislike for Cole, Parker feels compelled to help her, in no small part because the blackmail scheme puts Cole's daughter in terrible danger. At the same time, however, Parker must conceal his involvement with Cole from O'Donnell. As Parker and O'Donnell slowly close in on 718, they find themselves drawn into a deadly game in which Cole is used as a pawn, even as deadly secrets are revealed, violence escalates, and lives are ended or forever changed.

THE DARKNESS is even better than THE FURY. Pinter refuses to fall back on formula writing, choosing instead to continue juggling and evolving his cast of characters while creating fascinating and intricate plotlines that seem to be pulled right off the street of the everyday world. And, if the teaser at the end of the book is to be believed, more surprises are soon in store. For now, however, THE DARKNESS will more than satisfy even the most discerning reader.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Jason Pinter's The Darkness is a direct sequel to The Fury. Unless you've read the predecessor, you are unlikely to get all you can out of this book. That is the important caveat for this review, as it could contain spoilers about the previous book.

In The Fury, Pinter's series character Henry Parker (an investigative reporter), investigated the murder of the half-brother he didn't know he had. It turned out that the late Stephen Gaines had ties to a mysterious drug kingpin known as the Fury and as the last book ended, Parker, along with his mentor Jack O'Donnell were about to start their hunt.

The Fury seems like myth to some, but to Parker and O'Donnell, he's real enough and quite dangerous. The Fury is well-connected and has a tight organization, relying on laid-off men from the financial sector as the dealers instead of the less reliable standard street pushers. The Fury is about to get even more powerful with the distribution of a drug called the Darkness which is super-addictive. The pair will start to get answers, but they find they are fighting a force perfectly willing to threaten (and kill) innocents to coerce adversaries.

The Fury was a decent mystery novel with a likeable main character, some nasty bad guys and a good amount of suspense and action. The Darkness has all these qualities, but is a lesser book. For one thing, the Fury comes off like a James Bond villain, which is a little over-the-top for this kind of story. Also, Pinter switches from first-person to third-person a lot. Normally, this is done to give the reader information about things the narrator (Parker) doesn't know; in this case, Parker appears in some of these third-person narratives. It's kind of disorienting.

Flaws aside, this is still a readable, entertaining book. Certainly for fans of The Fury, The Darkness will provide some closure to unresolved plot points from the earlier book. It may not be the most satisfying conclusion, but it does the job.

There is no doubt that Jason Pinter is a skilled and successful writer in his
genre, the mystery thriller, as are many others. And that's just the thing.
There is nothing distinguishing in "The Darkness," nothing to particular make
it stand out in a crowded field.

The book features a New York investigative reporter, Henry Parker, who has
figured in a whole series of Pinter novels. "The Darkness" is a sequel to
"The Fury," which I have not read--- Amazon Vine often dumps reviewers into
the middle of a sequence--- and author Pinter is not kind to readers who
haven't picked up the back story by reading the earlier books. Familiarity
with a host of detail is assumed, and, not having that familiarity, I was
often confused if not bewildered.

The story is told in a mixture of first and third person; some of it is
narrated by the protagonist and some shown from the perspective of various
characters. This technique is fine as far as it goes, but it's overdone here
and has the dual effected of becoming disjointed and reducing our connection to
the protagonist, Henry Parker.

Henry, though, is a rather flat character who no matter the narrative style
would evoke little interest and less sympathy. He is one of the weakest
"heroes" I've encountered in this brand of fiction. The other major
characters in the book aren't really well developed, either, except for the
villian "Chester," who is well drawn and believably evil.

The plotting is average, with a few holes that don't detract too much from the
flow, and an attempt to dramatically link into "expose" type news stories
published in the San Jose Mercury some numerous years ago. This attempt falls
flat and completely lacks credibility; but it's an interesting twist, even if
one that doesn't really make it in the end.

To summarize--- good points: quality writing; bad points: a lame protagonist,
flat characters, and a mixed narrative mode that could have been best avoided.

It's an average thriller, something to read on the beach, perhaps, but nothing
more, and there's nothing here to say you should read this book instead of
something else.

In The Fury (Henry Parker Novels),the prequel to this book, journalist Henry Parker learns he has a brother....when he is asked to identify a body at the morgue.

While investigating the death of the brother he never knew he had, Parker is taken into the drug underworld.

And while Parker may get most of the story, the end is far from over.

Fast forward to The Darkness. Parker again travels into the trenches of New York City's drug trade. But the drug cartels are far from what one would expect and their plans to return the city to the stone ages is one for the history books.

Although the book is fiction, Pinter uses several historically true stories as references to his story line; tales that will make the average reader shudder at the thought.

Maybe the story is somewhat simplistic (as stated by a few other Amazon reviewers); however, fiction, in my opinion, is eye candy for the brain. I'm not looking for some difficult, twisting plot that I have to take notes just to keep up.

And if you agree, you'll enjoy The Darkness. This fast paced, 373-page mystery thriller is an easy read, that's fully engaging, (hilariously) quick-witted, with never a dull moment.

Not having read the prequel (The Fury) and since I am not a fan of drug-related crime novels, I was pleasantly surprised that this captured my interest early into it. Most of Pinters novels are fast moving and original. This falls into the same catagory and even though it helps to have read the Fury, enough was covered about what happened in it, that the reader has no problem following the plot lines.

The main characters are Henry Parker the young journalist, his girlfriend Amanda, Henry's mentor Jack O'Donnell the seasoned journalist at the same newspaper where Henry works, and Curt, the honest dedicated police officer. They all appear in the Parker series of Pinters works. I find them likeable and believable "good guys" who have one thing in common, they want their city clean and safe and they want some answers as to who was responsible for some events in the prequel of The Fury. While investigating this, they uncover evil as it threatens to corrupt some of New York's most educated and successful minds. These easy and vulnerable targets are professionals who have lost everything in todays economic hard times, are in financial ruin and desperate to get back their former lives. The promise of easy and BIG money is too hard to resist. The premise is quite scary -- big time drug money and how it can be used and by whom just blows you away thinking of the possibilities.

The reference to the actual events of what happened in our real world in the 80's culminating in the arrest of Noriega and the US involvement in the Contra drug scandal was an added plus to the subject matter and how corruptive it really is, a good reminder of the power of drug money and how it can be manipulated. The ending was satisfying and appropriate. I felt like I had just watched an action movie. Good and fast-paced.

I read at least several thrillers/mysteries a week and have done so for ages. I am not saying this to establish expertise but rather jadedness. It is getting harder and harder to wow me in this genre. This book has a terrific beginning. A woman reporter is kidnapped and tortured by a man in a limo. She is told she must write something in her paper by Thursday or her daughter will be murdered. I was hooked. Except... all these other characters were then introduced for many, many pages and my interest flagged page by page. One of my favorites in this genre, Katzenbach's THE ANALYST, kept the focus right on the protagonist with a similar opening and never let up. This author kept introducing me to yet more new characters instead. I realize this is a series and maybe reading these novels out of sequence is a bad idea. With most authors you can do this because they don't want to lose any readers in their series. Read the review of someone who has read the other books to get a better handle on that aspect. This isn't bad, just underwhelming after that great start.

Picking up where "The Fury" left off, Jason Pinter's thrilling novel "The Darkness" keeps the reader frantically flipping these 374 pages in a one session read. While both books make perfect sense independently, reading "The Fury" first makes it that much more enjoyable.

Set in modern day New York, the novel features three prominent reporters who all worked together at the New York Gazette. Jack O'Donnell the seasoned pro, Henry Parker who narrates most of the story and the much hated Paulina Cole who publicly exposed Jack's alcoholism in a story that sent him into hiding and rehabilitation and her to the rival newsroom as the feature writer of the New York Dispatch.

Determined to find out who murdered his newly discovered drug kingpin half brother, Stephen Gaines and who the Fury is, Henry Parker keeps his girlfriend, Amanda worried about his safety as bodies continue to fall around him.

Fresh out of rehabilitation and ready to pick up where he left off; legendary Jack O'Donnell is back and teams up with Henry in an effort to break the biggest story since the 1980's peak drug infestation that took over the City.

Forced to publish a story that helps market the new and improved drug of choice, the darkness, Paulina turns to Parker for help following her kidnapping and threat on her daughter's life.

It turns out there is a connection between the kidnapper and the murder of Stephen Gaines that unleash Henry and Jack into the path of the storm--718 Enterprises, a ruthless drug cartel headed by the ingeniously evil "Fury."

The twist and turns fueled by several true events enthralls and engulfs the reader like a whirling tornado silenced only by the final gust as the last page turns softly and the haunting book closes leaving the reader counting the days until March 30, 2010 when the next Henry Parker story, "The Invited" hits the Market.