Customer Reviews

Dead Before Dark

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Among readers, Wendy Corsi Staub is well known for her ability to deliver surprise endings. Her killers are often hidden in plain sight, and yet they remain unrevealed until the precise moment that the she has chosen to unmask them. That's quite an accomplishment so many books in. So to say that I was shocked is to say that this book is in a category all its own.

All of Staub's trademark elements are well represented: an abundance of red herrings, a hint of romance, and a truth that is both surprising and inevitable. Always a page-turner, the author still manages to ratchet up the suspense to almost unbearable levels, and the last hundred pages seem to turn themselves. The ending, however, is somewhat of a departure--it's a calculated risk, and it pays off. Just when you think you know Staub's game, she changes it up.

Dead Before Dark showcases a master storyteller at the height of her powers.

Thirty-five tortuous prison years made the Night Watchman's desire to murder again build like shaken champagne. He is free --- at last! --- and the cork is ready to pop, letting him reclaim macabre fame that made him as notorious as Jack the Ripper. Scotland Yard is out of the question in the mean streets of several U.S. cities, leaving only Super Psychic Lucinda Sloan to keep America safe. But who keeps Lucinda safe from the Night Watchman?

Shortly after the Night Watchman's prison release on the first day of summer, his celebratory murder brings Lucinda and former lover Detective Randy Barakat together, but only professionally. Randy is now married, but "Lucinda doesn't have to be psychic to know that he, too, has unresolved feelings," despite Randy being engaged when Lucinda met him. Lucinda need not be psychic to know that such a romance is doomed. Or is it?

In a psychic scene, Lucinda "sees" the body of her former lover's wife. Wishful thinking or ESP? The Psychic Detective goes to Randy's house, newspapers strewn about the entrance, a sure sign no one has been there for days. With a key under the mat, the Clever Clairvoyant opens the door and with psychic horror knows what has happened, before discovering....

"A monster masquerading as a gentleman," the Night Watchman's MO is always at full moon, and victims' lips are smeared with red lipstick that make them "look like a demented clown." The Sexy Soothsayer wears blood-red lipstick of a war-time calendar girl. The Night Watchman alters his MO "[t]o let the almighty Lucinda know she no longer has control of her own life." He breaks into her apartment, leaves a scrapbook of all his macabre "successes," including mention of the "suicide" of her friend's sister 35 years ago. Cam Hastings, a friend, is also clairvoyant, "having visions of her daughter's abduction long before it became a frightening reality."

The Night Watchman deviated from his MO when he murdered his own mother --- the heinous crime for which he was sent to prison for 35 years. The MO also calls for sort of a "parting gift" --- parting from the world of the living. He leaves on each victim's wrist a watch with the death date and longitude and latitude of the murder site. He leaves clues for Lucinda as to where the next murder will be committed, perhaps to let her know that he is playing psychic by predicting her murder --- and guaranteeing success of that prediction. He leaves mysterious clues, two sets of decimal numbers, the better to baffle Lucinda. He taunts former FBI agent Vic Shattuck, who is writing a book about the Night Watchman murders, with "I'M BACK" written in red lipstick and mailed to his house.

The Night Watchman sets up fake online newspaper websites, giving exact details of a murder he plans to execute, so that Lucinda is at the scene immediately after the crime is committed, giving investigators cause to believe she is somewhat more than clairvoyant. The attempts fail, bolstering Lucinda's alibis for multiple homicides, for which she's a borderline suspect. Not-so-subtle clues are strewn about like wildflowers. Or are they herrings red as Lucinda's lipstick?

Lucinda's hair --- her DNA --- is planted in the death grip of chalky hands, as though the dying hand had grasped her hair. Detective Frank Santiago thinks Lucinda is orchestrating serial killings to bolster fame as the Sexy Soothsayer. A dramatic scene shakes the foundation of this premise, as Lucinda "sees" that Santiago's claimed "touch of pneumonia" is rapidly metastasizing lung cancer. Santiago now knows that Lucinda really is psychic, and his following the Night Watchman's red-herring leads allowed many more murders.

The motivation for the Night Watchman's obsessive fascination with killing women who wear scarlet lipstick is told in a surprise scene that will keep readers of this review --- among other things --- dangling.

Initially confusing, Staub's use of third person present tense and sentence-paragraphs are as substantial as Lucinda's "usual breakfast: Cap'n Crunch or Frosted Flakes, coffee, and a can of Pepsi." Staub has a unique, strong style that pulls the reader into Lucinda's world. Her funny, clever style is displayed in a scene where Lucinda fears for her life and Detective Neal Reingold asks, "What are you doing today?"

"Let's see... Sitting at home, reading magazines, eating stale marshmallow Peeps, and waiting for something terrible to happen. That's pretty much it."

"That's not good."

"I like them stale. I leave the packages open on purpose. They get this crunchy crust of sugar that I really..."

"I'm not talking about the Peeps. I'm talking about the waiting for something terrible to happen."

"Oh --- I'm just kidding, Neal."

"No, you're not."

"You're right. I'm not."

An easy read with fast-paced intrigue, DEAD BEFORE DARK is dead-on with thrills and spills, like Disney World's Space Mountain.

I thought this book was really good and suspenseful and I had trouble putting it down. That's why the ending turned out to be such a huge disappointment for me.

I also didn't care much for the way the whole thing was presented -- the springboard for the whole book seemed to be Ava's murder, but the way the author ended up weaving that into the rest of the story she was telling didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Disappointing overall.

Another book by Wendy Corsi Staub was a huge WOW.
This book is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it.
Never have I been disappointed in any of her books.
Good work Wendy, thanks for a great read.

I enjoyed the previous book, Dying Breath, and eagerly looked forward to the continuation of the story, but found Dead Before Dark to be disappointing.

Early in the book the killer leaves a cleverly hidden clue at the first crime scene. The author must have forgotten about it because it was never found or mentioned again. After waiting for it to be discovered for hundreds of pages, and wondering what new twist would be introduced, that was a letdown.

There are some inconsistencies in the book, but the one I found the most disturbing was when Lucinda sees a key detail during a vision, and even has a conversation about it later. But even later when someone tells her about it, this was suddenly new information to her.

When the first numbers clue appeared, I immediately knew what they represented, and found the length of time it took them to figure it out very frustrating.

There were too many simultaneous stories. Although I liked having the Hastings family around, they really didn't serve much purpose. After a while it became annoying whenever the story would switch back to them. They didn't contribute much and there wasn't anything exciting going on with them. The Ava connection wore thin pretty quickly.

I waited with eager anticipation for the killer's identity to be revealed. There weren't too many potential candidates to choose from, but it kept me guessing as to why it could be this one and not that one. In the end, it was a big disappointment.

The "romance" was danced around throughout the book but never really got off the ground.

The book was too long and drawn out. Then after nearly 500 pages, it ended pretty abruptly. Things weren't wrapped up nicely with a pretty bow. Some things were left hanging, others weren't mentioned again. Possibly for a third installment? Even what did get wrapped up was done hastily and left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed. It reminded me of the way Mary Higgins Clark ends her books, and it's the reason I don't read them anymore.

The Night Watchman serial killer was as infamous as any back in the sixties; but abruptly the murder spree ended. Now thirty-five years later, the only person who knows personally what happened to the Night Watchman all those years ago is released from Attica. Three and a half decades is a long time between kills, but he is back and quickly knows who his final victim will be though he has a few other murders to make on his trek across America before he completes his final masterpiece. He chose psychic detective Lucinda Sloan as the last victim after seeing her on television as he finds her skill to "see" murders fascinating.

The Night Watchman needs to prepare the last one for death by engaging her in a game of cat and mouse. He sends her cryptic notes that he also gives to her friend Cam Hastings, who still has not recovered from her daughter's abduction last summer or for that matter the murder of her sister years ago (see DYING BREATH). Finally the egotistical killer sends the same notes to former FBI agent Vic Shattuck, who is writing a true crime nonfiction about the Night Watchman. None of the trio can quite figure out from the strange missives who is next, but the Night Watchman is narrowing the field as his great finish to his grand tour is coming.

Although serial killers sending clues to the cops have been around for quite a long time, DEAD BEFORE DARK is a terrific thriller starring an evil, efficient and effective psychopath and the three people he chooses to spice up his second coming. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the reader meets the Night Watchman, who knows his first task as a free man is to kill. Sub-genre fans will appreciate this fine saga as Lucinda realizes by the third homicide that the serial killer is playing chess with her.

Harriet Klausner

Although I enjoy this author, I found the storyline to be a bit convoluted. A killer coming back after 35 years? Where and how is it possible that he is even physically fit after all that time? I know I'm not and the killer is even older than me! How is it possible that he can travel to so many places to be one step ahead of the police in spite of his age? Hmmm. He'd have to start when he was 15 in order to complete this feat of traveling to so many places in such a short time and even 35 years later would put him at 50! Such great strength, agility and remarkable power to even stay awake to hunt, plan,travel, abduct and murder? WOW! Is this guy Superman or what?

The ending was a letdown, which was surprising for this author, but I will continue to seek out her books anyway.

I like Wendy Corsi Staub and enjoy her books. However, this one had too many characters and a convoluted plot. Several times I had to re-read pages or look back in the book to refresh myself on who was who. And I was very disappointed in the silly ending. The book is worth reading and will hold your attention, but keep a pad by your chair to take notes, or you'll likely be confused!

Well, while I enjoyed the story and the suspense I was very disappointed about the ending. Wendy Corsi Staub has some great stories but I personally am not crazy about the way she presents them. I still enjoy
her books though. This one will keep you in suspense right up until the
end, but like I said, for me the end was a very disappointing. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it for other readers, but I still
would buy this book.

Was very much looking forward to this book, as I was disappointed with Dyibg Breath I was hoping this book would better but it wasnt. The story is unbelievable, too many characters with very little development and really just felt like a police procedural book which isnt what fans of Wendy's have come to enjoy. Stick to titles such as dearly beloved, she loves me not, the last to know and don't scream etc. The ending was also ridiculous and it took all my strength to actually finish the book! hope this book and storyline are not a sign of things to come