When Darkness Falls audiobook

RATING: 4.25Most defense attorneys will tell you that many of the people that they represent are not innocent. In spite of that fact, they are sworn to provide them with the best possible legal defense. Miami defense attorney Jack Swyteck finds himself in a real dilemma when he is assigned a homeless man known as "Falcon". He is certain that he won't receive his fees; much to his surprise, Falcon has no problem at all coming up with the required $10,000. In fact, he sends Jack to Bermuda to retrieve it, at which time Jack finds Falcon has stashed $200,000 in a safe deposit box. Falcon had been arrested after threatening to jump from a bridge unless the mayor's daughter is brought to the scene. Once released from jail, he is implicated in the brutal murder of a woman found in the trunk of the abandoned car which he had been calling home. Panicked, Falcon takes Jack's best friend, Theo, hostage, along with two women and a man found in a seedy motel room. Grippando takes us deep into the twisted mind of Falcon. Along with the police, the reader is never certain what he will do next. Will he kill one of the hostages? Will he be satisfied if the mayor's daughter, Alicia Mendoza, comes to talk to him? The motel is surrounded by SWAT teams and eagle-eyed snipers. Alicia's former boyfriend, Vince Paulo, is assigned as the negotiator. There's a lot on the line for Vince, as he lost his sight during a similar stand-off. Alicia, Jack and Vince form a team who desperately try to figure out how to put the Falcon out of commission without harming the hostages.WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is a suspenseful thriller that goes beyond action and provides a good look at the motivations of the various characters in the book, as well as portraying some of the political influences that are impacting the situation. I really liked Jack Swyteck, who was a defense attorney with a conscience. In spite of the fact that he had an extremely unlikable client, he provided him with the best defense that he could and would not allow himself to use information about Falcon to barter with the mayor and others for personal gain. Grippando also did a great job in his depiction of Vince Paulo, who was only recently blinded and struggling with other people's reactions to him as well as finding a way to live a meaningful life.In addition to the present-day situation, Grippando weaves in a sub-plot about Argentina in the late 1970s and early 80s having to do with the "Disappeared" during the "dirty war". The connections to the present day were a little too convenient, but do add another dimension to the narrative.WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is the sixth book in the Swyteck series. This is my first exposure to the author and the character. Based on how much I enjoyed this book, it won't be my last.

Finished this one in one day! Of course we had a road trip where we listened to it, but we made sure to finish it to find out what was happening...and to see if my husband was right because of course he guessed everything! Ok, there was one small part at the end that he didn't guess, but the rest he did. I'm not sure how he does it, but I didn't realize what was happening.Another enjoyable book in the series and I'm glad we have more left to listen to!

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS [2007] By James GrippandoMy Review Four Stars****This is the sixth book in bestselling author James Grippando’s Jack Swytek series set in beautiful Miami, Florida. I have been a fan of his legal thrillers for years and decided to read the book series in their order of publication. I have never been disappointed and this early work was no exception. Fans of the Jack Swytek novels are naturally familiar with Defense Attorney Jack’s backstory, particularly his friendship with the larger-than-life Theo Night, former death row inmate. I am an advocate of the school of thought that a reader will invariably enjoy any given book series more when they start at the beginning and read the genesis of the main character and are introduced to the people who populate the universe of the protagonist. The richness of the backstory and the enlightenment of the character arcs are missed when a reader plucks the tenth installment out of a twenty-book series to read. That said “When Darkness Falls” is one Swytek novel that could be easily enjoyed as a standalone. I say that because Grippando offers up a complex plot with many moving pieces in this mystifying selection. First, it is not a “Legal Thriller” as advertised. That fact does not impact this engaging if not epic plot line in the least. There are several likeable, strong, and sympathetic protagonists. We are introduced to Vince Paolo, a Hostage Negotiator who had been permanently blinded during his last case. Vince’s love interest is savvy streetwise homicide detective Alicia Mendoza, also the 27-year-old daughter of the politically influential Mayor. Their troubled romantic relationship aside, there is enough happening in this thriller to keep you turning the pages. The narrative is launched by a homeless man known only as Falcon threatening to jump off the Powell Bridge and plunge 130 feet into the bay below. The now blind Paolo is leading the negotiation because of his prior history with Falcon. Falcon’s demand is to speak to Alicia Mendoza, the cop. She is there at the scene and willing to talk to Falcon if that will end the standoff. Vince promises Falcon if he will come down then his request will be honored. However, he is swarmed by the police the moment he descends and hauled to jail. This turn of events fractures Falcon’s trust in Paulo’s word and overshadows the high intensity action packed story that follows. Jack is expecting a Pro Bono case when he meets the grungy figure of Falcon in the jail cell. The dirty disheveled homeless man had adamantly refused a Public Defender so Jack had been amenable to stepping in to provide counsel Pro Bono to meet his quota of free counsel cases for the year. The two trade hysterical insults with one another initially which is entertaining dialogue. Jack’s inadvertent detour from reality to the Twilight Zone begins when the bum informs Jack that he can meet bail set at $10,000. Swytek laughs at Falcon and relays to him that he does not believe that he has money to pay his attorney alone make $10,000 Bail. The narrative leads Jack, accompanied by Theo, to a safety deposit box in the Bahamas. Falcon is let out on bail and later slaughters an older woman who he finds lurking at his home (the abandoned skeletal remains of a Ford Falcon along the river). Falcon becomes a wanted fugitive when the body is found in the trunk of the gutted car on the beach. Subsequently Falcon has a face off with police leaving one casualty and another wounded officer of the law. Falcon begins to think strange thoughts which are suggested to be actual memories of the past. However, he says odd statements aloud about his murder victim in the trunk of the Falcon, calling her “The Mother Of The Disappeared”. The Mayor makes several power plays to Jack and the authorities to keep Falcon away from his daughter Alicia, including phone contact of any kind. The Mayor’s response is suggested to be extreme and is not easily understood. Then the whole plot shifts into high gear when an armed and dangerous Falcon confronts Jack and manages to take Theo hostage. Falcon is armed to the teeth, proves himself to be a crack shot, exhibits street savvy with holding his own, barricades the doors and windows of a motel room while holding a bound Theo and three other innocent people hostages. Grippando proves once again that he can write action and suspense thrillers with the best of today’s thriller writers. The identity of the homeless dirtbag known as “Falcon” is a revelation and proves to be only the chilling tip of the iceberg.When Darkness Falls is a complex mystery about evil that existed decades ago in what was called “Argentina’s Dirty War.” The truth about the events are both chilling and heart-rendering. This is an epic story that spans time and space to bring truth to the surface in present day. The tale accomplishes all of this while also allowing one of Hell’s lost souls to make a down payment on redemption. Tragically, his sins of the past could never be atoned. The explosive climax is unforgettable and gut-wrenching. The author also provides an ending which is both heart warming and ultimately as satisfying as possible given the gravity of the revelations. It is not my intent to provide a synopsis of this grand tale by Grippando. It is highly recommended to any fans who somehow missed this sixth installment of the series. However, most readers who enjoy suspense, a story with depth, scintillating dialogue and lovable protagonists are going to love this book even if they have never heard of James Grippando. I dare say though once they read it, his name will become more familiar to them. ANOTHER SOLID THRILLER FROM THE EARLY WORKS OF JAMES GRIPPANDO

Jack Swyteck, a Miami criminal defense attorney, isn't looking for a new client, at least not one who is homeless and in jail for threatening to jump off a bridge. But from the moment Jack is called to defend the man, who goes by the name Falcon, something is amiss. For one thing, Falcon comes up with the $10,000 bail—in cash. Then the body of a brutally murdered woman is found in the trunk of the abandoned car in which he is living.Panicked and on the run, Falcon takes Jack's best friend, Theo, hostage. They end up barricaded in a motel room, and Theo isn't the only one at Falcon's mercy. Jack must work with the cops and their crackerjack negotiator to free Theo and the other captives before Falcon decides he has nothing to lose by killing them all.What Jack doesn't know is that Falcon has a much bigger agenda, and that there are people behind the scenes who will stop at nothing to keep their dangerous secrets.

I have not read this author before, but starting with Book #6 was not a problem, so these can be read out of order. I liked the setting, and now want to take a trip to Miami!!!! The story itself was very suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. I will say that the ending was a little confusing, although, looking back there were clues sprinkled throughout.I’ll be reading more Grippando in the future.

It started off a it slow, but was quite riveting by the end. Even though it's number 6 in the series, it's readable as a stand-alone. I did feel that as the main character, Jack was side-lined and became just one of the many.

Just as good as the last one!

Not a literary read 5 star, but a 5 star for the genre. Continuing good series that is a good read.

Fast Paced FunI enjoy Mr. Grippando’s tale as always. Love the fact that his stories are always fast paced with interesting characters, good and bad. I always read them too fast!

#6 in the Jack Swyteck series.

It's always a pleasure having Jonathan Davis in my ears, especially bringing James Grippando's Jack Swyteck series to life. This sixth book is one of his better ones.

very good series..Will read more