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Caleb Zelic #3
No Trace – Die Spur des Bösen
Der gehörlose Privatermittler Caleb ist endlich auf dem richtigen Er sucht sich Hilfe wegen seiner Albträume, er hat wieder Aufträge, und die Beziehung zu seiner fast-Ex-Frau läuft besser als je zuvor. Doch das verworrene Leben seiner Ex-Business-Partnerin Frankie holt ihn ein. Frankie hat viel verbrannte Erde hinterlassen, sich mit den Falschen angelegt und die noch Falscheren hintergangen. Als plötzlich ihre Nichte aus Calebs Obhut entführt wird, müssen Caleb und Frankie zusammenarbeiten, um das Kind zu retten. Aber kann Caleb Frankie nach all den Lügen und Täuschungen wieder vertrauen?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2019
46 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Emma Viskic
10 books269 followersEmma Viskic is author of the internationally acclaimed Caleb Zelic series. Her novels have won numerous prizes, including a Ned Kelly Award and an unprecedented five Davitt Awards. Her debut novel, Resurrection Bay, was shortlisted for the UK’s prestigious Gold Dagger and New Blood Dagger Awards. It was recently voted one of the decade’s best crime novels by Crime Time UK.
Emma consulted extensively with people in the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in order to create the character of Caleb, who is profoundly deaf. Her attempts to learn lipreading were a dismal failure, however she continues to enjoy learning Auslan (Australian sign language)
She lives in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia
Emma consulted extensively with people in the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in order to create the character of Caleb, who is profoundly deaf. Her attempts to learn lipreading were a dismal failure, however she continues to enjoy learning Auslan (Australian sign language)
She lives in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
November 17, 2019
This is my first taste of this incredible award winning Aussie crime series by Emma Viskic featuring troubled and deaf PI Caleb Zelic, set in Melbourne. I was plunged into the series where significant events had taken place previously, but Viskic gives sufficient information that I didn't feel like that I was flailing around too much. The story opens with Caleb at a children's farm to meet a new client, a meeting organised through the exchange of emails, only to find him dead, shot through the back of his head, and being questioned by Aussie Federal cops. Life continues its downward spiral for him when he is tasered by a woman he has met previously, claiming to be a federal police officer, wanting him to find Frankie, his business partner who had betrayed him. She has information that could destroy Caleb's life, giving him two days to locate Frankie.
Frankie is 58 year old former Sergeant Francesca Reynolds, with whom Caleb has a complicated relationship, her addictions had her working with criminals, endangering his wife, Kat, but she had also risked her life to save them both too. After a lifetime of bad decisions, Caleb's marriage to Kat had been heading towards divorce, but they are slowly working their way back to each other, Kat is pregnant. After a devastating history of miscarriages, this is a fraught and worrying time for Caleb, he has had to change and be more open and communicative with Kat, take only safe business assignments, and make sure Kat faces no danger from his cases. However, life has other plans for him when he comes across Maggie, Frankie's sister, deeply involved with the criminal underworld, so badly injured that she has to be hospitalised. When Maggie's adorable bright young daughter, 9 year old Tilda, is abducted, Caleb and Frankie once again work together to find and save her. As the bodies pile up, Caleb additionally has to find who is sabotaging his friend Alberto's catering business and vandalising his deaf community cafe.
Viskic writes a gripping and atmospheric crime mystery of double crosses and betrayals, with an unusual protagonist in the deaf Caleb, giving the reader insights into the world of the deaf and Aussie sign language. We are given the perspectives of a deaf person, their everyday life and challenges, the way they are treated, often as invisible, stupid, dismissed, and even facing an over-solicitousness on occasion. With Caleb's friendship with Alberto and others, we additionally get a fascinating and rare picture of deaf culture and community in Melbourne. Viskic has a winning protagonist in Caleb, a flawed man, seeing a therapist, trying to do his best in a world that brings unavoidable trouble to his door step. One of the highlights for me was seeing his relationship develop with the enchanting Tilda. This is a terrifically memorable addition to what is clearly a superb series that I think will appeal to most crime and mystery readers. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Bonnier Books for an ARC.
Frankie is 58 year old former Sergeant Francesca Reynolds, with whom Caleb has a complicated relationship, her addictions had her working with criminals, endangering his wife, Kat, but she had also risked her life to save them both too. After a lifetime of bad decisions, Caleb's marriage to Kat had been heading towards divorce, but they are slowly working their way back to each other, Kat is pregnant. After a devastating history of miscarriages, this is a fraught and worrying time for Caleb, he has had to change and be more open and communicative with Kat, take only safe business assignments, and make sure Kat faces no danger from his cases. However, life has other plans for him when he comes across Maggie, Frankie's sister, deeply involved with the criminal underworld, so badly injured that she has to be hospitalised. When Maggie's adorable bright young daughter, 9 year old Tilda, is abducted, Caleb and Frankie once again work together to find and save her. As the bodies pile up, Caleb additionally has to find who is sabotaging his friend Alberto's catering business and vandalising his deaf community cafe.
Viskic writes a gripping and atmospheric crime mystery of double crosses and betrayals, with an unusual protagonist in the deaf Caleb, giving the reader insights into the world of the deaf and Aussie sign language. We are given the perspectives of a deaf person, their everyday life and challenges, the way they are treated, often as invisible, stupid, dismissed, and even facing an over-solicitousness on occasion. With Caleb's friendship with Alberto and others, we additionally get a fascinating and rare picture of deaf culture and community in Melbourne. Viskic has a winning protagonist in Caleb, a flawed man, seeing a therapist, trying to do his best in a world that brings unavoidable trouble to his door step. One of the highlights for me was seeing his relationship develop with the enchanting Tilda. This is a terrifically memorable addition to what is clearly a superb series that I think will appeal to most crime and mystery readers. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Bonnier Books for an ARC.
February 4, 2020
4.5★
“‘Make Good Decisions’ was his new motto. Very new motto. Plastic wrapping just off, a new-car smell to it.
He tries. Caleb Zelic really tries – to make good decisions, I mean. But somehow, he manages to get himself tangled up with the wrong people to the point that he (and I) couldn’t tell the friends from the enemies. Except for Tilda, a clever nine-year-old girl. I was always pretty sure she was okay. He did get into some dreadful trouble in his previous outings, and he’ll always be looking over his shoulder.
Caleb is deaf and even with his hearing aids he relies heavily on lip-reading. It’s a major part of his personality, and I think Viskic does a commendable job of illustrating the kinds of barriers he’s up against. Dark alleys, candle-lit restaurants, moonless nights, beards. And that’s when he’s facing the right way.
When someone walks up behind him in broad daylight and sticks a gun in his back, he’s entitled to be as jumpy as any hearing person would when a prankster sneaks up silently and pops a balloon behind you. He is surprisingly calm, but then he’s used to being in dicey situations and being unexpectedly assaulted.
His wife / almost ex-wife Kat, is her delightful self, and her close-knit family – sisters and their kids – hang around her house and eye him warily. They are Aboriginal and naturally a little suspicious of this white fella who seems to have hurt Kat in the past, but he’s determined to make good – to make good decisions!
I admit that I got confused about who the baddies were. There is white-collar crime and bloody-collar crime, and Caleb was never quite certain which crime belonged to whom, so you can imagine how I fared. There was no respite and little time to enjoy Kat, because he was either chasing someone or escaping from them, and part of the time he had the nine-year-old in tow.
There was also a bit of a side-story involving his old mate Alberto who runs an Italian Deaf restaurant, employing all deaf employees and catering especially to the deaf community. He seems to be being targeted for some reason, attacked and threatened, but he refuses to shut down, worried about his staff.
“‘You know how hard it is for us in the job market.’
Not just the market, but often the jobs themselves. Caleb had hated every minute working at the insurance companies where he’d begun his investigative career. Constant battles about phones and group meetings, co-workers’ irritated sighs.
There is a very entertaining scene showing the other side of the ‘battle’ when he goes to an office, asking to see someone and the woman turns her head as she answers.
“‘Sorry, could you look at me when you speak? I’m deaf. I’m lip-reading.’
She spun back to him, mouth open. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. You poor thing, how terrible.’
S**t, a mourner. A very loud mourner. Her lamentations had drawn the attention of everyone in the room, including
. . .
‘You speak very well, you know. A little quietly, but just like a normal person.’ A meteor, a weapon, something to end this now.
. . .
‘It must be so hard for you. Do you know about cochlear implants? My neighbour’s cousin’s son got –’
Caleb looked away until she’d lowered the receiver. ‘You’re in luck,’ she said. ‘Down the hallway to the last office. Do you need help?’ She glanced at [X], who was coming towards them. ‘Or is that your carer?’”
I was ready to drop a meteor on her myself! This has a nice mix of mystery and thrills and warm characters you don’t want to see get hurt. The deafness is an interesting aspect of the stories and makes you realise how much we assume about other people.
As a personal aside, I’ll just mention that some of what I see being interpreted as dementia is largely due to people nodding and smiling inanely at comments and questions because they can’t hear them properly but don’t like to ask people to repeat themselves. That’s especially true of jokes and funny remarks, where you’d feel like a killjoy asking someone to say it again – clearly. Once they’ve lost momentum, the moment has passed.
But I digress. This is much more than a story about a deaf guy – it’s a very satisfying addition to the series about an interesting man and his people (and their people). I look forward to the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
“‘Make Good Decisions’ was his new motto. Very new motto. Plastic wrapping just off, a new-car smell to it.
He tries. Caleb Zelic really tries – to make good decisions, I mean. But somehow, he manages to get himself tangled up with the wrong people to the point that he (and I) couldn’t tell the friends from the enemies. Except for Tilda, a clever nine-year-old girl. I was always pretty sure she was okay. He did get into some dreadful trouble in his previous outings, and he’ll always be looking over his shoulder.
Caleb is deaf and even with his hearing aids he relies heavily on lip-reading. It’s a major part of his personality, and I think Viskic does a commendable job of illustrating the kinds of barriers he’s up against. Dark alleys, candle-lit restaurants, moonless nights, beards. And that’s when he’s facing the right way.
When someone walks up behind him in broad daylight and sticks a gun in his back, he’s entitled to be as jumpy as any hearing person would when a prankster sneaks up silently and pops a balloon behind you. He is surprisingly calm, but then he’s used to being in dicey situations and being unexpectedly assaulted.
His wife / almost ex-wife Kat, is her delightful self, and her close-knit family – sisters and their kids – hang around her house and eye him warily. They are Aboriginal and naturally a little suspicious of this white fella who seems to have hurt Kat in the past, but he’s determined to make good – to make good decisions!
I admit that I got confused about who the baddies were. There is white-collar crime and bloody-collar crime, and Caleb was never quite certain which crime belonged to whom, so you can imagine how I fared. There was no respite and little time to enjoy Kat, because he was either chasing someone or escaping from them, and part of the time he had the nine-year-old in tow.
There was also a bit of a side-story involving his old mate Alberto who runs an Italian Deaf restaurant, employing all deaf employees and catering especially to the deaf community. He seems to be being targeted for some reason, attacked and threatened, but he refuses to shut down, worried about his staff.
“‘You know how hard it is for us in the job market.’
Not just the market, but often the jobs themselves. Caleb had hated every minute working at the insurance companies where he’d begun his investigative career. Constant battles about phones and group meetings, co-workers’ irritated sighs.
There is a very entertaining scene showing the other side of the ‘battle’ when he goes to an office, asking to see someone and the woman turns her head as she answers.
“‘Sorry, could you look at me when you speak? I’m deaf. I’m lip-reading.’
She spun back to him, mouth open. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. You poor thing, how terrible.’
S**t, a mourner. A very loud mourner. Her lamentations had drawn the attention of everyone in the room, including
. . .
‘You speak very well, you know. A little quietly, but just like a normal person.’ A meteor, a weapon, something to end this now.
. . .
‘It must be so hard for you. Do you know about cochlear implants? My neighbour’s cousin’s son got –’
Caleb looked away until she’d lowered the receiver. ‘You’re in luck,’ she said. ‘Down the hallway to the last office. Do you need help?’ She glanced at [X], who was coming towards them. ‘Or is that your carer?’”
I was ready to drop a meteor on her myself! This has a nice mix of mystery and thrills and warm characters you don’t want to see get hurt. The deafness is an interesting aspect of the stories and makes you realise how much we assume about other people.
As a personal aside, I’ll just mention that some of what I see being interpreted as dementia is largely due to people nodding and smiling inanely at comments and questions because they can’t hear them properly but don’t like to ask people to repeat themselves. That’s especially true of jokes and funny remarks, where you’d feel like a killjoy asking someone to say it again – clearly. Once they’ve lost momentum, the moment has passed.
But I digress. This is much more than a story about a deaf guy – it’s a very satisfying addition to the series about an interesting man and his people (and their people). I look forward to the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
May 14, 2020
This is the third book in a series featuring Caleb Zelic, a private investigator who suffers with a severe hearing loss. This makes for interesting reading as we find out how difficult it can be for people like him to make their way in the world. I cannot help feeling that he may also not be in the most suitable job but anyway...
Book three and Caleb is still making bad decisions, or making some good ones but not sticking to them. His past catches up with him in a very unfortunate way and the body count starts to build alarmingly. It also becomes apparent that being deaf in his situation does not help as he cannot hear the enemy creeping up behind him. For Caleb the first sign is always being knocked unconscious.
The book is action packed and most of the time there is no way of knowing who to trust. Occasionally I thought it lost coherency but that may be because I did not remember all the details of the earlier books. That did not affect my enjoyment of the excellent writing skills of the author and the eventual outcome of the story.
I hope that Caleb gets his life together a little in the next book which I will be looking forward to reading.
Book three and Caleb is still making bad decisions, or making some good ones but not sticking to them. His past catches up with him in a very unfortunate way and the body count starts to build alarmingly. It also becomes apparent that being deaf in his situation does not help as he cannot hear the enemy creeping up behind him. For Caleb the first sign is always being knocked unconscious.
The book is action packed and most of the time there is no way of knowing who to trust. Occasionally I thought it lost coherency but that may be because I did not remember all the details of the earlier books. That did not affect my enjoyment of the excellent writing skills of the author and the eventual outcome of the story.
I hope that Caleb gets his life together a little in the next book which I will be looking forward to reading.
February 12, 2020
This is book #3 in a series featuring one of the most original MC’s you’ll come across. At first glance, Caleb Zelic seems like your average PI. But he has a special skill set. After a bout of childhood meningitis left him profoundly deaf, his other senses stepped up to fill the void. As a result, Caleb not only lip reads but notices what others miss. Gestures, expressions…all the little tics that give someone away. He never forgets a face & can repeat conversations verbatim. Unfortunately he has one other “gift”. The man is an absolute sh*t magnet & the tradition continues here.
He spent the last year dealing with dangerous thugs, the breakdown of his marriage & brutal betrayal by his former partner, Frankie. But Caleb’s a resilient guy & things are looking up. He landed his first solo job, he’s on more than speaking terms with his wife & regular therapy is helping get his head straight.
Well, it was nice while it lasted. He just found out his new client is slightly dead & the federal police are all over him. An old friend’s business is being sabotaged & a rogue cop is threatening him with blackmail. Then Frankie shows up.
Cue the ominous music. If you’ve read previous books, you know Frankie’s character is rarely associated with rainbows & puppies. More like bullets & blood. What started out as just a bad day suddenly has the potential to be craptastic.
Caleb is still reeling from their last encounter & wants nothing to do with her. But that’s before he meets her niece. Tilda is a funny, geeky little girl surrounded by domestic drama. When she winds up in Caleb’s care, they bond over weird facts & sign language. So when she is snatched, Caleb has no choice but to work with Frankie to bring her home. But who is behind the kidnapping & what do they want?
Good question. There’s a whack of bad guys to choose from. Money launderers, Frankie’s enemies, thugs trying to silence her mother….even the feds may see Tilda as a useful tool. All hell breaks loose as Caleb & Frankie race to find her against a backdrop of growing violence & an escalating body count.
What follows is a complex & chaotic story with a plot that keeps you guessing. Hidden connections & unreliable characters mean you never know who’s pulling the strings or telling the truth. It’s exactly the kind of investigation Caleb is trying to avoid as part of his resolution to “make good decisions”. The people involved are ruthless & not above targeting Caleb’s family to get what they want. There are ties to story lines from previous books & the reader finally gets some answers to long standing questions. Caleb’s personal life continues to develop & is nicely woven through the search for Tilda. Plenty of action & suspense keeps you reading but brace yourself…..there are some jaw droppers ahead & not everyone will survive.
As always, the author continues to provide a fascinating glimpse of what it’s like to be hearing impaired. From daily challenges to the little tricks Caleb employs, it’s clear she’s done her homework.
Sometimes when you meet a character beset with issues, it can seem like overkill. You end up thinking yeesh, give the guy a break. I never felt that here. Yes, Caleb has a lot on his plate but what saves this from descending into handwringing drama is the humour. Caleb’s dry wit provides some of the best lines that give the reader a chance to breathe between scarier moments. He’s a compelling character you root for & I’ll be keeping en eye out for his next adventure. Just maybe from a safe distance.
He spent the last year dealing with dangerous thugs, the breakdown of his marriage & brutal betrayal by his former partner, Frankie. But Caleb’s a resilient guy & things are looking up. He landed his first solo job, he’s on more than speaking terms with his wife & regular therapy is helping get his head straight.
Well, it was nice while it lasted. He just found out his new client is slightly dead & the federal police are all over him. An old friend’s business is being sabotaged & a rogue cop is threatening him with blackmail. Then Frankie shows up.
Cue the ominous music. If you’ve read previous books, you know Frankie’s character is rarely associated with rainbows & puppies. More like bullets & blood. What started out as just a bad day suddenly has the potential to be craptastic.
Caleb is still reeling from their last encounter & wants nothing to do with her. But that’s before he meets her niece. Tilda is a funny, geeky little girl surrounded by domestic drama. When she winds up in Caleb’s care, they bond over weird facts & sign language. So when she is snatched, Caleb has no choice but to work with Frankie to bring her home. But who is behind the kidnapping & what do they want?
Good question. There’s a whack of bad guys to choose from. Money launderers, Frankie’s enemies, thugs trying to silence her mother….even the feds may see Tilda as a useful tool. All hell breaks loose as Caleb & Frankie race to find her against a backdrop of growing violence & an escalating body count.
What follows is a complex & chaotic story with a plot that keeps you guessing. Hidden connections & unreliable characters mean you never know who’s pulling the strings or telling the truth. It’s exactly the kind of investigation Caleb is trying to avoid as part of his resolution to “make good decisions”. The people involved are ruthless & not above targeting Caleb’s family to get what they want. There are ties to story lines from previous books & the reader finally gets some answers to long standing questions. Caleb’s personal life continues to develop & is nicely woven through the search for Tilda. Plenty of action & suspense keeps you reading but brace yourself…..there are some jaw droppers ahead & not everyone will survive.
As always, the author continues to provide a fascinating glimpse of what it’s like to be hearing impaired. From daily challenges to the little tricks Caleb employs, it’s clear she’s done her homework.
Sometimes when you meet a character beset with issues, it can seem like overkill. You end up thinking yeesh, give the guy a break. I never felt that here. Yes, Caleb has a lot on his plate but what saves this from descending into handwringing drama is the humour. Caleb’s dry wit provides some of the best lines that give the reader a chance to breathe between scarier moments. He’s a compelling character you root for & I’ll be keeping en eye out for his next adventure. Just maybe from a safe distance.
May 16, 2021
Darkness for Light is the third book in Emma Viskic's Caleb Zelic series where Caleb is a bit-part player in the Private Detective scene. I read the first book and now this without reading the second and the one thing I would pass on is that the books should not be read out of order. There is a lot discussed in this book that happened in the first and evidently even more that happened in the second, so I will need to catch up ASAP.
Admittedly, one of the biggest drawcards to this series for me is the hometown feel, with Darkness for Light based in my hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Caleb is somebody probably best to stay away from. Everybody he seems to know will either leave him or double-cross him at some stage, and it happens again here. Not one to learn a lesson, he is again mixed up with two notoriously seedy sisters, one who used to be a cop and his partner in business.
There is also a small side story within the story but it doesn't affect the main plot. In fact, it does feel a bit like 'padding out' the novel. Having said that, this book is an amazingly fast read primarily because it is so good and there is so much action. In total, there may be a cast of about 30 characters and at some point in the book, you could swear that each was behind the plot of nastiness, only to turn the pages and find you are wrong yet again. There are so many twists and turns, characters who appear headed in one direction only to change course.
Again, I strongly suggest you read the books in order but I am confident that once you have read the first, Ressurection Bay, you'll be hooked.
Admittedly, one of the biggest drawcards to this series for me is the hometown feel, with Darkness for Light based in my hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Caleb is somebody probably best to stay away from. Everybody he seems to know will either leave him or double-cross him at some stage, and it happens again here. Not one to learn a lesson, he is again mixed up with two notoriously seedy sisters, one who used to be a cop and his partner in business.
There is also a small side story within the story but it doesn't affect the main plot. In fact, it does feel a bit like 'padding out' the novel. Having said that, this book is an amazingly fast read primarily because it is so good and there is so much action. In total, there may be a cast of about 30 characters and at some point in the book, you could swear that each was behind the plot of nastiness, only to turn the pages and find you are wrong yet again. There are so many twists and turns, characters who appear headed in one direction only to change course.
Again, I strongly suggest you read the books in order but I am confident that once you have read the first, Ressurection Bay, you'll be hooked.
January 11, 2020
Private Investigator Caleb Zelic had succeeded in turning his life around. Tentatively reconciling with Kat, his almost divorced wife and finding the friends among the deaf community that he’d shunned, he was also in therapy and doing well. But the day he discovered a badly injured person on a visit to her house was the beginning of another horror period of his life – once again connected with his ex-partner Frankie.
Frankie’s life had spiralled out of control and when her niece was kidnapped, Frankie begged Caleb for help. But he had no idea who he could trust. There were people trying to kill him as well as others; cops had already been killed and the race was on to discover answers before more died. At the same time, one of his good friends who owned a café for the deaf was being targeted. Could Caleb help him while trying to sort out the mess his life had suddenly become?
An outstanding third novel in the Caleb Zelic series, Aussie author Emma Viskic has nailed it with Darkness for Light. An electric pace with spine chilling twists and something I definitely hadn’t been expecting near the finish, Darkness for Light would have to be Viskic’s best work to date in my opinion. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Echo Publishing for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Frankie’s life had spiralled out of control and when her niece was kidnapped, Frankie begged Caleb for help. But he had no idea who he could trust. There were people trying to kill him as well as others; cops had already been killed and the race was on to discover answers before more died. At the same time, one of his good friends who owned a café for the deaf was being targeted. Could Caleb help him while trying to sort out the mess his life had suddenly become?
An outstanding third novel in the Caleb Zelic series, Aussie author Emma Viskic has nailed it with Darkness for Light. An electric pace with spine chilling twists and something I definitely hadn’t been expecting near the finish, Darkness for Light would have to be Viskic’s best work to date in my opinion. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Echo Publishing for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2019
Emma Viskic's series featuring deaf PI Caleb Zelic series is turning out to be a very strong series indeed, with this third episode being the best yet!
Caleb is back in Melbourne, taking slow steps to reconcile with his wife Kat who is expecting their child. After two miscarriages they are understandably nervous and Caleb is doing his best to make good decisions about his actions to keep them both safe. However, when a new client is murdered before Caleb can even meet him and his ex-partner Frankie's sister is assaulted and her young niece Tilda abducted, Caleb finds himself back in the thick of some very dangerous business, not knowing who he can trust.
This is well written, gritty action packed crime as Caleb lurches from one life threatening situation to the next trying to make sense of what is going on as people lie and betray him. His deafness makes him a most unusual protagonist as someone who has fine-tuned his observation skills to compensate for any lack in hearing what is happening. It's interesting to see the world from his perspective and see his difficulties lip reading and listening to people who are not facing him, have beards, accents or, in one amusing scene, are stoned. It was also lovely to see the bond he formed with nine year old Tilda and was able to put aside his problems with Frankie to help find her. An engaging, intrigue packed thriller which should appeal to many readers.
Caleb is back in Melbourne, taking slow steps to reconcile with his wife Kat who is expecting their child. After two miscarriages they are understandably nervous and Caleb is doing his best to make good decisions about his actions to keep them both safe. However, when a new client is murdered before Caleb can even meet him and his ex-partner Frankie's sister is assaulted and her young niece Tilda abducted, Caleb finds himself back in the thick of some very dangerous business, not knowing who he can trust.
This is well written, gritty action packed crime as Caleb lurches from one life threatening situation to the next trying to make sense of what is going on as people lie and betray him. His deafness makes him a most unusual protagonist as someone who has fine-tuned his observation skills to compensate for any lack in hearing what is happening. It's interesting to see the world from his perspective and see his difficulties lip reading and listening to people who are not facing him, have beards, accents or, in one amusing scene, are stoned. It was also lovely to see the bond he formed with nine year old Tilda and was able to put aside his problems with Frankie to help find her. An engaging, intrigue packed thriller which should appeal to many readers.
December 2, 2019
Darkness For Light is the third book in the superb Private Investigator Caleb Zelic series, set in the stifling heat of Melbourne, Australia. Although preferable it certainly isn't essential to have read any of the preceding instalments to understand and enjoy this one so feel free to jump right on in. Caleb is still trying to pick up the pieces of his life since the fire that ravaged everything a few months previously. But when a prospective client he was about to meet is murdered and Frankie's niece, Tilda, is kidnapped he is forced to wave goodbye to his promise to make good decisions and must team up with Frankie who everyone wants a piece of it seems. To make matters worse Caleb is being blackmailed into either handing over the file Frankie has possession of or Frankie in person. If his luck is in, Celeb might just find redemption by the end of the story, but then again who knows when discussing someone so eager to follow one disastrous decision by an even worse one.
From the moment the story begins with a bang we are treated to an action-packed narrative which never gives you time to breathe and demands to be read in a single nail-biting sitting. Full of brutal violence, betrayal and double-crosses, from the time the first body drops they pile up left, right and centre. This is the very definition of an unputdownable page-turner, and I thoroughly enjoyed the riveting plot, the heart-pounding atmosphere and number of shocks which seem to be neverending and extremely clever in nature. Caleb Zelic is an unforgettable protagonist brought vividly to life and despite constantly tripping over his good intentions he is a likeable and admirable character. Viskic has undoubtedly proven herself to be among the masters of the crime genre. Calling this a read would be to do it a disservice; this is an experience and an exhilarating and fantastic one at that. Unreservedly recommended. Many thanks to Echo for an ARC.
From the moment the story begins with a bang we are treated to an action-packed narrative which never gives you time to breathe and demands to be read in a single nail-biting sitting. Full of brutal violence, betrayal and double-crosses, from the time the first body drops they pile up left, right and centre. This is the very definition of an unputdownable page-turner, and I thoroughly enjoyed the riveting plot, the heart-pounding atmosphere and number of shocks which seem to be neverending and extremely clever in nature. Caleb Zelic is an unforgettable protagonist brought vividly to life and despite constantly tripping over his good intentions he is a likeable and admirable character. Viskic has undoubtedly proven herself to be among the masters of the crime genre. Calling this a read would be to do it a disservice; this is an experience and an exhilarating and fantastic one at that. Unreservedly recommended. Many thanks to Echo for an ARC.
February 1, 2020
Darkness for Light is the third Australian thriller by author Emma Viskic featuring deaf P.I. Caleb Zelic.
After the ending of the first book, I had my thoughts that some threads left hanging would, at some point, culminate into a great pay-off. It happens in this third entry in the series, where everything sown by Emma Viskic in her first two novels bring the story to an epic climax.
As such, it’s better to read the first two books in the series before this one.
Caleb Zelic is, for a change, in a good place. Therapy has dealt with his trauma, he has changed his ways, and his relationship with his wife is the better for it. Still a P.I., but lessons learned, he’s taking safe cases, staying away from any violence. New lovable characters are introduced, and other ones developed.
The book begins as he’s visiting a children farm in which he has to meet a new client. It appears that this client doesn’t have much to ask from him, as Caleb finds him dead in a chicken coop.
Caleb is determined to give his statement to the local police and walk away from it all. But, federal agents take an interest in the case and, as could be expected, a specific fed we’ve already met then comes back to nag him.
Against his wishes, he’s dragged into a case involving players from previous books. People he would have liked to leave behind. Once a little girl is abducted, and it appears he’s her best chance to get out of this alive, mayhem and murder find Caleb Zelic again.
From then, the story is non-stop investigation and action, leaving us no room to breathe (especially with the author keeping to her unusual but efficient style for action). A major twist punches out whatever air remained in our lungs, before the race against time, and multiple unknown parties, continues in yet another direction.
This is a story of treachery, violence and treason. But, this is also a story of unicorns, almond milk, and the greater importance of kittens. This to say that, in spite of the seriousness of it all, the book also managed to get quite a few laughs out of me.
Darkness for Light is the best entry in the series so far, and I’ll be there if Emma Viskic decides to bring back her characters for a fourth novel.
Thanks to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
Link to review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Link to review of book two : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
After the ending of the first book, I had my thoughts that some threads left hanging would, at some point, culminate into a great pay-off. It happens in this third entry in the series, where everything sown by Emma Viskic in her first two novels bring the story to an epic climax.
As such, it’s better to read the first two books in the series before this one.
Caleb Zelic is, for a change, in a good place. Therapy has dealt with his trauma, he has changed his ways, and his relationship with his wife is the better for it. Still a P.I., but lessons learned, he’s taking safe cases, staying away from any violence. New lovable characters are introduced, and other ones developed.
The book begins as he’s visiting a children farm in which he has to meet a new client. It appears that this client doesn’t have much to ask from him, as Caleb finds him dead in a chicken coop.
Caleb is determined to give his statement to the local police and walk away from it all. But, federal agents take an interest in the case and, as could be expected, a specific fed we’ve already met then comes back to nag him.
Against his wishes, he’s dragged into a case involving players from previous books. People he would have liked to leave behind. Once a little girl is abducted, and it appears he’s her best chance to get out of this alive, mayhem and murder find Caleb Zelic again.
From then, the story is non-stop investigation and action, leaving us no room to breathe (especially with the author keeping to her unusual but efficient style for action). A major twist punches out whatever air remained in our lungs, before the race against time, and multiple unknown parties, continues in yet another direction.
This is a story of treachery, violence and treason. But, this is also a story of unicorns, almond milk, and the greater importance of kittens. This to say that, in spite of the seriousness of it all, the book also managed to get quite a few laughs out of me.
Darkness for Light is the best entry in the series so far, and I’ll be there if Emma Viskic decides to bring back her characters for a fourth novel.
Thanks to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
Link to review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Link to review of book two : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 15, 2020
I am a happy camper, that was freaking fantastic! Emma Viskic's third book featuring deaf PI Caleb Zelic was action packed and full of crisp and witty dialogue that was unashamedly Australian. I do recommend though that the books be read in order.
An Australian Federal Police officer on leave, Imogen something or other, claims to have evidence linking Caleb to a past crime. She will bury it if Caleb can find Frankie, his former partner who betrayed him in the last book. Frankie has some information that a whole bunch of people are very keen to see buried about her sister Maggie, who seems to be heavily involved in money laundering. While Caleb and Frankie lurch around trying to stay ahead of hit men, corrupt coppers and proper coppers Maggie's nine year old daughter, Tilda, is kidnapped.
No-one wants to see Tilda hurt, but how to find her? In trying to rescue Tilda, and while trying to avoid death or dismemberment, Caleb makes deals with hackers, possibly corrupt lawyers and Imogen who may or may not be on the level, she certainly seems to be operating in rogue way. While the action never let up what really made this book sparkle was the punchy dialogue and the comedic situations that Caleb's deafness invoked. Very enjoyable.
An Australian Federal Police officer on leave, Imogen something or other, claims to have evidence linking Caleb to a past crime. She will bury it if Caleb can find Frankie, his former partner who betrayed him in the last book. Frankie has some information that a whole bunch of people are very keen to see buried about her sister Maggie, who seems to be heavily involved in money laundering. While Caleb and Frankie lurch around trying to stay ahead of hit men, corrupt coppers and proper coppers Maggie's nine year old daughter, Tilda, is kidnapped.
No-one wants to see Tilda hurt, but how to find her? In trying to rescue Tilda, and while trying to avoid death or dismemberment, Caleb makes deals with hackers, possibly corrupt lawyers and Imogen who may or may not be on the level, she certainly seems to be operating in rogue way. While the action never let up what really made this book sparkle was the punchy dialogue and the comedic situations that Caleb's deafness invoked. Very enjoyable.
May 15, 2022
This is such a reliably good series, with instalment #3 bringing the thrills just as much as the previous 2 books - maybe even more!
Deaf PI Caleb Zelic is getting his life back in order. He's seeing a brilliant therapist (thanks to new best bud, Detective Tedesco), his relationship with estranged wife Kat is on the mend, and he's keeping his worklife fairly stressfree by taking mainly routine security work, or 'safe jobs' as he thinks of them. But all that changes when he goes to meet a new client whose face is blown off before they can exchange a greeting. His instinct is to stay out of it, but when the Feds get involved, bringing him back into the orbit of Jasmine, his least favourite purported AFP officer (from the previous book), he realises he has no choice. She has something over him, and it's persuasive. Caleb has no choice but to do her bidding, which is essentially to get some very sensitive and incriminating information from Maggie Reynolds. When he discovers Maggie has been bludgeoned in her own home, and then her daughter is kidnapped, Caleb can only think of one person who can help him get out of this mess - Frankie.
Wow, so much happens in this story! We meet a lot of characters we already know from the previous books (do try to read in order if at all possible), and things that happened before are relevant to what's happening now. There's the character growth you'd hope for, even though some like Tedesco are not as prominent this time around. I had the impression it was quite a short book because I flew through it, but in fact the page count seems pretty average. Obviously I was enjoying the thrillride. Luckily I already have #4 lined up to read soon.
Deaf PI Caleb Zelic is getting his life back in order. He's seeing a brilliant therapist (thanks to new best bud, Detective Tedesco), his relationship with estranged wife Kat is on the mend, and he's keeping his worklife fairly stressfree by taking mainly routine security work, or 'safe jobs' as he thinks of them. But all that changes when he goes to meet a new client whose face is blown off before they can exchange a greeting. His instinct is to stay out of it, but when the Feds get involved, bringing him back into the orbit of Jasmine, his least favourite purported AFP officer (from the previous book), he realises he has no choice. She has something over him, and it's persuasive. Caleb has no choice but to do her bidding, which is essentially to get some very sensitive and incriminating information from Maggie Reynolds. When he discovers Maggie has been bludgeoned in her own home, and then her daughter is kidnapped, Caleb can only think of one person who can help him get out of this mess - Frankie.
Wow, so much happens in this story! We meet a lot of characters we already know from the previous books (do try to read in order if at all possible), and things that happened before are relevant to what's happening now. There's the character growth you'd hope for, even though some like Tedesco are not as prominent this time around. I had the impression it was quite a short book because I flew through it, but in fact the page count seems pretty average. Obviously I was enjoying the thrillride. Luckily I already have #4 lined up to read soon.
December 1, 2019
Darkness For Light is the third Caleb Zelic thriller by award-winning Australian author, Emma Viskic. Caleb Zelic is in a good place: things are going well in his no-longer-on-the-brink-of-divorce relationship with Kat, who is expecting his child; a patient therapist has him more settled and intent on making good decisions; and he is finding friendship and support in the deaf community he had earlier rejected.
But then his possible new client turns up dead before they even meet, and the AFP are somehow involved. Worse still, he is blackmailed into finding his ex-partner, Frankie Reynolds, a woman who doesn’t have his best interests at heart. It feels like the opposite of a good decision.
Caleb isn’t quite sure how, but he finds himself in charge of smart, quirky nine-year-old Tilda when she is kidnapped. Tilda is the daughter of Frankie’s sister, Maggie, with whom Caleb has some unfortunate history. Now, it seems he and Frankie will have to join forces to track her down. But they aren’t the only ones searching: certain ruthless criminals will stop at nothing to protect their interests.
Meanwhile, Alberto Conti also wants Caleb’s help. He believes that someone is sabotaging his business, a café where the deaf are employed, welcomed and catered for as customers. If his business fails, it will be a great loss to the deaf community. Can Caleb spread his skills and talents to cover both these challenges?
What a unique protagonist Viskic gives the reader in Caleb Zelic. He is clearly capable and possesses an exceptional capacity for observation. While his tendency to conceal his deafness and his disinclination to ask for help made him a somewhat frustrating character in earlier books, his (still reluctant) admission of it now allows Viskic to demonstrate the attitudes from the hearing community (hearies) to which the deaf are routinely subjected.
It also makes for an utterly hilarious exchange between Caleb and some rather stoned hearies that is best not read whilst eating, drinking or with a full bladder. Quite apart from his hearing challenges, Caleb also seems to have a problem picking whom he can trust; even when he gets it right, he sometimes gets it wrong…
Caleb Zelic’s third outing features a fast-paced plot with twists and turns that will keep even the most astute the reader guessing until the final pages. Viskic manages to include vandalism, money laundering, loan sharks, computer hackers, a windscreen wiper as a weapon, quite a bit of gunplay and a fairly high body-count in the lead-up to the nail-biting climax. More of this brilliant Aussie crime fiction please, Ms Viskic!
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Echo Publishing 2 December 2019 $29.99
But then his possible new client turns up dead before they even meet, and the AFP are somehow involved. Worse still, he is blackmailed into finding his ex-partner, Frankie Reynolds, a woman who doesn’t have his best interests at heart. It feels like the opposite of a good decision.
Caleb isn’t quite sure how, but he finds himself in charge of smart, quirky nine-year-old Tilda when she is kidnapped. Tilda is the daughter of Frankie’s sister, Maggie, with whom Caleb has some unfortunate history. Now, it seems he and Frankie will have to join forces to track her down. But they aren’t the only ones searching: certain ruthless criminals will stop at nothing to protect their interests.
Meanwhile, Alberto Conti also wants Caleb’s help. He believes that someone is sabotaging his business, a café where the deaf are employed, welcomed and catered for as customers. If his business fails, it will be a great loss to the deaf community. Can Caleb spread his skills and talents to cover both these challenges?
What a unique protagonist Viskic gives the reader in Caleb Zelic. He is clearly capable and possesses an exceptional capacity for observation. While his tendency to conceal his deafness and his disinclination to ask for help made him a somewhat frustrating character in earlier books, his (still reluctant) admission of it now allows Viskic to demonstrate the attitudes from the hearing community (hearies) to which the deaf are routinely subjected.
It also makes for an utterly hilarious exchange between Caleb and some rather stoned hearies that is best not read whilst eating, drinking or with a full bladder. Quite apart from his hearing challenges, Caleb also seems to have a problem picking whom he can trust; even when he gets it right, he sometimes gets it wrong…
Caleb Zelic’s third outing features a fast-paced plot with twists and turns that will keep even the most astute the reader guessing until the final pages. Viskic manages to include vandalism, money laundering, loan sharks, computer hackers, a windscreen wiper as a weapon, quite a bit of gunplay and a fairly high body-count in the lead-up to the nail-biting climax. More of this brilliant Aussie crime fiction please, Ms Viskic!
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Echo Publishing 2 December 2019 $29.99
July 5, 2022
Darkness for Light is the third novel in Emma Viskic’s Caleb Zelic Australian Crime series. This novel continues threads from the previous two novels and reading those first might prove to be helpful. This one demonstrates that no matter what Caleb isn’t going to be able to settle down to a peaceful life. Frankie, his old partner and betrayer, still lurks in the background and she has something – some document – that everyone wants and that everyone will kill to get. Caleb is stuck in the middle cause everyone knows he is their connection to Frankie. But things being as they are Caleb has someone else – a new character- he must protect at all costs. This novel is action packed from start to finish and is another top-notch read. Caleb’s hearing-impairedness is perhaps not as front and center as in the first two novels or perhaps we as readers are just used to his lip reading and sign language as kind of the new novel. On to the fourth novel in the series.
Want to read
December 9, 2019Super thrilled to see that Cal's back! It's been too long...
April 27, 2021
Viskic’s 3rd offering in the Caleb Zelic private detective series has Caleb recovering from a previous case where he made some bad decisions. He is determined to only ‘Make Good Decisions’ from now on. He is seeing a therapist, developing supportive connections with the Deaf community, and reconciling with his beautiful wife, Kat.
His good intentions do not last long. Upon his arrival to meet a new client, he discovers the man dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Turns out the man was a federal police officer, and Caleb is quickly roped into a convoluted case that involves money laundering, child kidnapping, computer hacking and much more. Whom can Caleb trust? Probably not Frankie, his former partner and ex-police officer. Even though it is her 9-year-old niece that has been kidnapped, she has double-crossed Caleb before. Can he trust the rogue federal officer that is also investigating the case? There are lots of twists and turns and Caleb’s deafness makes him miss some clues, but allows him to see others. Enjoy!
His good intentions do not last long. Upon his arrival to meet a new client, he discovers the man dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Turns out the man was a federal police officer, and Caleb is quickly roped into a convoluted case that involves money laundering, child kidnapping, computer hacking and much more. Whom can Caleb trust? Probably not Frankie, his former partner and ex-police officer. Even though it is her 9-year-old niece that has been kidnapped, she has double-crossed Caleb before. Can he trust the rogue federal officer that is also investigating the case? There are lots of twists and turns and Caleb’s deafness makes him miss some clues, but allows him to see others. Enjoy!
February 1, 2020
I wish to thank NetGalley and Steerforth Press for the advanced digital copy of Darkness for Light in return for an honest review. This is the 3rd book in Emma Viskic’s award-winning crime series. It features a private detective, Caleb Zelic in Melbourne who is deaf. This is a fast-paced, suspenseful story with some surprising twists. It gives well-informed insights into the obstacles that a deaf person may encounter and to the uncomfortable, cloying pity from some well-intentioned people. There was also a ridiculous encounter where Caleb is asked if he has a guide dog and uses a white cane.
I had read and enjoyed the first book in this much-acclaimed series, and found Caleb to be sympathetic, but careless. He was not living up to his full potential due to his reluctance to admit he was deaf. As he hid his handicap during conversations he sometimes misinterpreted what was being said. He is intelligent and adept at sign language and does quite well at lip-reading, and also by interpreting peoples’ facial expressions and gestures. Unable to hear on his phone, he used text messaging but often failed to look at the replies, did not keep it charged and even lost it. He also was careless in keeping his hearing aids in good working order and forgot to change batteries.
Although described as astute at reading people, his biggest problem was in trusting the wrong people and in failing to trust some that he should.
I did not realize there was a second book in the series. Although this works as a stand-alone, I felt I was missing out on his considerable personal growth. In Darkness for Light, he seems to have made some very positive progress since his problems in Resurrection Bay. He has been seeing a psychiatrist and is making an effort to reconcile with his lovely, talented wife. He has agreed to work on cases involving financial fraud and to avoid dangerous crime cases. He rarely misses words during conversations since he is no longer hiding his deafness. When unsure, he asks for repeats. Past personal relationships and betrayals are referred to, and some past events, but I want to know more and intend to read the second book.
Caleb continues to trust the wrong people which leads to some shocking revelations and places him in danger. The book begins with a text to meet an unknown man. He thinks this may be a possible case involving fraud. When arriving at the designated place, he discovers the unknown man shot dead. A woman from the federal police threatens him and orders him to obtain files through Frankie, his ex-partner who betrayed him.
He is estranged from Frankie and angry with her. He learns her sister is in hospital after a brutal attack by someone looking for those files which contain information about money laundering and large scale fraud. Caleb develops a warm friendship with Frankie’s bright, nine-year-old niece who is staying with her aunt while the mother is hospitalized. The niece is kidnapped by brutal people who think the young girl knows something. Caleb finds it necessary to work with Frankie to rescue the girl and save her life. Can he rely on Frankie and trust her? In their search for the girl, they have put themselves in mortal danger. There is an additional thread about a restaurant run by and employing deaf people which is being damaged financially by unknown people. In order to solve these cases, Caleb learns that people are not always what they seem. Who can be trusted? 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.
I had read and enjoyed the first book in this much-acclaimed series, and found Caleb to be sympathetic, but careless. He was not living up to his full potential due to his reluctance to admit he was deaf. As he hid his handicap during conversations he sometimes misinterpreted what was being said. He is intelligent and adept at sign language and does quite well at lip-reading, and also by interpreting peoples’ facial expressions and gestures. Unable to hear on his phone, he used text messaging but often failed to look at the replies, did not keep it charged and even lost it. He also was careless in keeping his hearing aids in good working order and forgot to change batteries.
Although described as astute at reading people, his biggest problem was in trusting the wrong people and in failing to trust some that he should.
I did not realize there was a second book in the series. Although this works as a stand-alone, I felt I was missing out on his considerable personal growth. In Darkness for Light, he seems to have made some very positive progress since his problems in Resurrection Bay. He has been seeing a psychiatrist and is making an effort to reconcile with his lovely, talented wife. He has agreed to work on cases involving financial fraud and to avoid dangerous crime cases. He rarely misses words during conversations since he is no longer hiding his deafness. When unsure, he asks for repeats. Past personal relationships and betrayals are referred to, and some past events, but I want to know more and intend to read the second book.
Caleb continues to trust the wrong people which leads to some shocking revelations and places him in danger. The book begins with a text to meet an unknown man. He thinks this may be a possible case involving fraud. When arriving at the designated place, he discovers the unknown man shot dead. A woman from the federal police threatens him and orders him to obtain files through Frankie, his ex-partner who betrayed him.
He is estranged from Frankie and angry with her. He learns her sister is in hospital after a brutal attack by someone looking for those files which contain information about money laundering and large scale fraud. Caleb develops a warm friendship with Frankie’s bright, nine-year-old niece who is staying with her aunt while the mother is hospitalized. The niece is kidnapped by brutal people who think the young girl knows something. Caleb finds it necessary to work with Frankie to rescue the girl and save her life. Can he rely on Frankie and trust her? In their search for the girl, they have put themselves in mortal danger. There is an additional thread about a restaurant run by and employing deaf people which is being damaged financially by unknown people. In order to solve these cases, Caleb learns that people are not always what they seem. Who can be trusted? 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.
March 11, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Darkness for Light is the third book in the Caleb Zelic series featuring private detective Caleb (Cal) who is deaf. It might be the third book but it is the first in the series that I have read. Whilst I found it easy to read and follow there were backstories to the characters I would have liked to have known more about and so I would say that it is best to read the series in order.
The book begins with Cal going to meet someone who made contact with him via email. He doesn’t know too much about the person, just that he didn’t want to discuss things online. At the meet point, it would seem that the man is a no-show, that is until a body is discovered. Turns out that the man was a Federal Police Officer and through no fault of his own Cal is now drawn into the investigation.
Frankie, Cal’s ex-partner, who in a previous book caused a lot of problems for him and nearly got him killed is mixed up in the investigation to the dead cop when her sister is badly beaten and then someone kidnaps her niece.
Cal’s determination to stay out of trouble and alive don’t seem to be going too well, but can he solve the case before another police officer’s threats to have him arrested for murder are made real?
As I began the book I knew it was part of a series and that I hadn’t read the others but I found the first few pages a little tough to get through as I didn’t know any backstory, or why Cal’s new motto was ‘to stay alive’ or even what happened with his ex-partner or his wife. Then I hit chapter three and the book came into its own and I was hooked.
Cal is an amazing character. His deafness brought a different aspect to the detective thrillers genres with his other senses heightened and a different approach to working with others due to his deafness, especially when he didn’t have his hearing aids attached.
Alongside the main case, which sees more officers being killed and a task force shut down, as someone is cleaning house, there is a secondary plot in which Cal is trying to help a friend who is being targeted and his restaurant business threatened.
The book is fast-paced. The chapters are short and the tension high, especially after nine-year-old Tilda is kidnapped. Who are these thugs and what is their main goal were questions I kept on asking myself? There was so much intrigue that I didn’t want to stop reading once I’d begun.
I am now planning on going back and reading the others in the series as I enjoyed this book so much, I need to see where Cal’s story begins.
Darkness for Light is the third book in the Caleb Zelic series featuring private detective Caleb (Cal) who is deaf. It might be the third book but it is the first in the series that I have read. Whilst I found it easy to read and follow there were backstories to the characters I would have liked to have known more about and so I would say that it is best to read the series in order.
The book begins with Cal going to meet someone who made contact with him via email. He doesn’t know too much about the person, just that he didn’t want to discuss things online. At the meet point, it would seem that the man is a no-show, that is until a body is discovered. Turns out that the man was a Federal Police Officer and through no fault of his own Cal is now drawn into the investigation.
Frankie, Cal’s ex-partner, who in a previous book caused a lot of problems for him and nearly got him killed is mixed up in the investigation to the dead cop when her sister is badly beaten and then someone kidnaps her niece.
Cal’s determination to stay out of trouble and alive don’t seem to be going too well, but can he solve the case before another police officer’s threats to have him arrested for murder are made real?
As I began the book I knew it was part of a series and that I hadn’t read the others but I found the first few pages a little tough to get through as I didn’t know any backstory, or why Cal’s new motto was ‘to stay alive’ or even what happened with his ex-partner or his wife. Then I hit chapter three and the book came into its own and I was hooked.
Cal is an amazing character. His deafness brought a different aspect to the detective thrillers genres with his other senses heightened and a different approach to working with others due to his deafness, especially when he didn’t have his hearing aids attached.
Alongside the main case, which sees more officers being killed and a task force shut down, as someone is cleaning house, there is a secondary plot in which Cal is trying to help a friend who is being targeted and his restaurant business threatened.
The book is fast-paced. The chapters are short and the tension high, especially after nine-year-old Tilda is kidnapped. Who are these thugs and what is their main goal were questions I kept on asking myself? There was so much intrigue that I didn’t want to stop reading once I’d begun.
I am now planning on going back and reading the others in the series as I enjoyed this book so much, I need to see where Cal’s story begins.
December 12, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Ned Kelly and Davitt Award Winning Author Emma Viskic issues her readers with another thrilling chapter in her Caleb Zelic series. Darkness For Light is the third book in Emma Viskic’s carefully crafted crime thriller series, featuring enigmatic private investigator Caleb Zelic. This new novel consumes the reader from page one, in a deepening tale of corruption, assault, murder, underhanded tactics, kidnapping and money laundering. Author Adrian McKinty observes that this novel is ‘Clever, brilliantly observed… Viskic just keeps getting better.’ I definitely approve of this comment, McKinty is spot on.
A story of trust, betrayal and difficult decisions, Darkness For Light is the third installment of Emma Viskic’s Australian crime thriller series, featuring tormented private investigator Caleb Zelic. When the book opens, Caleb is making tentative steps towards a better life. He is making inroads in the deaf community, seeking therapy and he is attending to the fractured relationship with his wife. But one thing Caleb cannot control is his past, which comes back to haunt him in this new story. Caleb is soon embroiled in an assault and kidnapping, which leads him back into the world of his ex-partner. Caleb has tried hard to distance himself from his ex-partner Frankie, who has duped him in the past, but this time he is unable to remove himself from the escalating situation at hand. A young child’s life is on the line and Caleb is determined to save her, despite the danger that lurks in the background. Darkness For Light engulfs the reader in yet another addictive and intelligent crime mystery involving Caleb Zelic, a compelling lead.
I stumbled on the writing of Australian crime fiction talent Emma Viskic late last year while completing a reading challenge. Resurrection Bay proved to be an exceptional novel and I noted that Viskic’s writing was fresh, original and genuinely intriguing. Due to time commitments I was unable to squeeze in book two in this series and instead Darkness For Light landed on the top of my review pile. I enjoyed the third issue in this additive crime thriller series and I will definitely be catching up on book two, sooner rather than later.
Caleb Zelic, Emma Viskic’s lead, takes centre stage again in Darkness For Light. There is a great continuation of character in terms of Caleb, both in a professional capacity and his personal world. We bear witness to his strained relationships, his attempts to make positive connections and the uphill struggle he faces at all points of his life as a hearing impaired private investigator. Emma Viskic has gone to great lengths in this department, she learnt Auslan in an effort to ensure the authenticity of her lead protagonist. I feel deeply indebted to her efforts, as it has resulted in a realistic and sensitive portrayal of this likeable hero.
In terms of the secondary characterisation, this is top notch. Viskic includes a great array of supporting cast, who add plenty of complications to the narrative, but they also work to support to Caleb and the resulting investigation of this tale. Viskic’s colourful periphery cast comprises of a shady ex-partner, a beloved wife, understanding friends, foes, astute partners and a young girl who Caleb is committed to saving. Along the way we meet plenty of good and bad guys, which introduces themes of corruption, the underworld, violence, assault, murder, extortion, kidnapping and plenty of double crossing, which is all set to a local stage.
Viskic is one talented crime novelist and she manages to stay one step ahead of the reader at all points of Darkness For Light. Viskic goes to great lengths to ensure that her novel is puzzling, enslaving and textured. The writing style is quick paced and the curtailed prose seduces the audience into turning the pages of Darkness For Light at breakneck speed. I read this one in a sitting, which is an indication of my inherent desire to get to the bottom of the story as quickly as possible! Ultimately, Darkness For Light delivered on all fronts and I was gifted a story by Emma Viskic that was utterly intoxicating!
Darkness For Light is a tension filled story of conflicts, strained relationships and plenty of criminal dealings, that will keep seasoned fans of the genre captivated. Emma Viskic’s third outing with PI Caleb Zelic proved to be a gratifying novel, that will be sure to hit the spot for readers who enjoy crime thrillers!
*Thanks extended to Echo Publishing for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Darkness For Light is book #151 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
Ned Kelly and Davitt Award Winning Author Emma Viskic issues her readers with another thrilling chapter in her Caleb Zelic series. Darkness For Light is the third book in Emma Viskic’s carefully crafted crime thriller series, featuring enigmatic private investigator Caleb Zelic. This new novel consumes the reader from page one, in a deepening tale of corruption, assault, murder, underhanded tactics, kidnapping and money laundering. Author Adrian McKinty observes that this novel is ‘Clever, brilliantly observed… Viskic just keeps getting better.’ I definitely approve of this comment, McKinty is spot on.
A story of trust, betrayal and difficult decisions, Darkness For Light is the third installment of Emma Viskic’s Australian crime thriller series, featuring tormented private investigator Caleb Zelic. When the book opens, Caleb is making tentative steps towards a better life. He is making inroads in the deaf community, seeking therapy and he is attending to the fractured relationship with his wife. But one thing Caleb cannot control is his past, which comes back to haunt him in this new story. Caleb is soon embroiled in an assault and kidnapping, which leads him back into the world of his ex-partner. Caleb has tried hard to distance himself from his ex-partner Frankie, who has duped him in the past, but this time he is unable to remove himself from the escalating situation at hand. A young child’s life is on the line and Caleb is determined to save her, despite the danger that lurks in the background. Darkness For Light engulfs the reader in yet another addictive and intelligent crime mystery involving Caleb Zelic, a compelling lead.
I stumbled on the writing of Australian crime fiction talent Emma Viskic late last year while completing a reading challenge. Resurrection Bay proved to be an exceptional novel and I noted that Viskic’s writing was fresh, original and genuinely intriguing. Due to time commitments I was unable to squeeze in book two in this series and instead Darkness For Light landed on the top of my review pile. I enjoyed the third issue in this additive crime thriller series and I will definitely be catching up on book two, sooner rather than later.
Caleb Zelic, Emma Viskic’s lead, takes centre stage again in Darkness For Light. There is a great continuation of character in terms of Caleb, both in a professional capacity and his personal world. We bear witness to his strained relationships, his attempts to make positive connections and the uphill struggle he faces at all points of his life as a hearing impaired private investigator. Emma Viskic has gone to great lengths in this department, she learnt Auslan in an effort to ensure the authenticity of her lead protagonist. I feel deeply indebted to her efforts, as it has resulted in a realistic and sensitive portrayal of this likeable hero.
In terms of the secondary characterisation, this is top notch. Viskic includes a great array of supporting cast, who add plenty of complications to the narrative, but they also work to support to Caleb and the resulting investigation of this tale. Viskic’s colourful periphery cast comprises of a shady ex-partner, a beloved wife, understanding friends, foes, astute partners and a young girl who Caleb is committed to saving. Along the way we meet plenty of good and bad guys, which introduces themes of corruption, the underworld, violence, assault, murder, extortion, kidnapping and plenty of double crossing, which is all set to a local stage.
Viskic is one talented crime novelist and she manages to stay one step ahead of the reader at all points of Darkness For Light. Viskic goes to great lengths to ensure that her novel is puzzling, enslaving and textured. The writing style is quick paced and the curtailed prose seduces the audience into turning the pages of Darkness For Light at breakneck speed. I read this one in a sitting, which is an indication of my inherent desire to get to the bottom of the story as quickly as possible! Ultimately, Darkness For Light delivered on all fronts and I was gifted a story by Emma Viskic that was utterly intoxicating!
Darkness For Light is a tension filled story of conflicts, strained relationships and plenty of criminal dealings, that will keep seasoned fans of the genre captivated. Emma Viskic’s third outing with PI Caleb Zelic proved to be a gratifying novel, that will be sure to hit the spot for readers who enjoy crime thrillers!
*Thanks extended to Echo Publishing for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Darkness For Light is book #151 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
December 10, 2019
Darkness for Light is the third book in Emma Viskic’s outstanding crime fiction series featuring Caleb Zelic.
Following the tumultuous events of Resurrection Bay, and And Fire Came Down, security consultancy Caleb Zelic is attempting to make better decisions. With the help of a therapist he has begun reconnecting with the Deaf community, reconciling with his pregnant wife, and rebuilding his company after his partner’s betrayal.
Meeting a new client at an urban children’s farm might be unusual, but in need of the business Caleb isn’t suspicious of the arrangement until the moment he stumbles upon the man’s body. Caleb is prepared to make the right decision and walk away from the mess, but the dead man’s colleague, an AFP officer, refuses to let him. She needs to find Caleb’s ex-partner, Frankie, and she isn’t above using blackmail to ensure his cooperation. Caleb has no qualms about turning Frankie over to the agent, until her nine year old niece, Tilda, is violently abducted, and the only decision he can make is the one which will save the child’s life, for better or worse.
From the opening chapters, Darkness for Light sets a breathtaking pace of twists and turns. It’s not only the escalating violence that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the body count rises, but the complexity of the situation that Caleb finds himself struggling to unravel. Skilfully crafted, the main plot revolves around a hidden ledger that could expose the illegal financial machinations of Melbourne’s elite. There are several parties who will do anything to get their hands on it, and Caleb is caught in the middle with no one to trust. Viskic definitely kept me guessing.
Caleb is not just under pressure from the rogue AFP agent, Frankie’s reappearance, and Tilda’s kidnapping, Kat is nearing a critical point in her pregnancy, and Alberto Conti, a deaf restaurant owner who has become a friend, has asked for his help. All of this threatens to undo the progress Caleb has made in therapy to deal with his demons. Viskic’s character development with Caleb has been uniformly excellent in previous instalments, but I particularly admired how she handled his emotional conflict in Darkness for Light.
Darkness for Light is an exhilarating crime fiction novel, personally I’d recommend reading at least books one or two (though preferably both) before reading it, you’ll find the investment is worth it.
Following the tumultuous events of Resurrection Bay, and And Fire Came Down, security consultancy Caleb Zelic is attempting to make better decisions. With the help of a therapist he has begun reconnecting with the Deaf community, reconciling with his pregnant wife, and rebuilding his company after his partner’s betrayal.
Meeting a new client at an urban children’s farm might be unusual, but in need of the business Caleb isn’t suspicious of the arrangement until the moment he stumbles upon the man’s body. Caleb is prepared to make the right decision and walk away from the mess, but the dead man’s colleague, an AFP officer, refuses to let him. She needs to find Caleb’s ex-partner, Frankie, and she isn’t above using blackmail to ensure his cooperation. Caleb has no qualms about turning Frankie over to the agent, until her nine year old niece, Tilda, is violently abducted, and the only decision he can make is the one which will save the child’s life, for better or worse.
From the opening chapters, Darkness for Light sets a breathtaking pace of twists and turns. It’s not only the escalating violence that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the body count rises, but the complexity of the situation that Caleb finds himself struggling to unravel. Skilfully crafted, the main plot revolves around a hidden ledger that could expose the illegal financial machinations of Melbourne’s elite. There are several parties who will do anything to get their hands on it, and Caleb is caught in the middle with no one to trust. Viskic definitely kept me guessing.
Caleb is not just under pressure from the rogue AFP agent, Frankie’s reappearance, and Tilda’s kidnapping, Kat is nearing a critical point in her pregnancy, and Alberto Conti, a deaf restaurant owner who has become a friend, has asked for his help. All of this threatens to undo the progress Caleb has made in therapy to deal with his demons. Viskic’s character development with Caleb has been uniformly excellent in previous instalments, but I particularly admired how she handled his emotional conflict in Darkness for Light.
Darkness for Light is an exhilarating crime fiction novel, personally I’d recommend reading at least books one or two (though preferably both) before reading it, you’ll find the investment is worth it.
April 19, 2020
I loved the first books to feature Caleb Zelic, a main protagonist who you travel along with very happily him being an intriguingly flawed character with a load of heart.
Darkness For Light was pacy and considered, these are always page turners and this was no exception. Caleb once more trying to do the right thing but ending up in hot water, the supporting cast are intensely involving and the plot is taut and cleverly layered.
I like how the author portrays the deaf community within her narrative, in fact Caleb's deafness is perfectly written it is just part of who he is, no more no less.
Overall this was a most excellent read. With personal lives in the balance, some difficult and emotional events taking place as this case gets solved, I am anticipating the next novel with not some little glee.
Recommended.
Darkness For Light was pacy and considered, these are always page turners and this was no exception. Caleb once more trying to do the right thing but ending up in hot water, the supporting cast are intensely involving and the plot is taut and cleverly layered.
I like how the author portrays the deaf community within her narrative, in fact Caleb's deafness is perfectly written it is just part of who he is, no more no less.
Overall this was a most excellent read. With personal lives in the balance, some difficult and emotional events taking place as this case gets solved, I am anticipating the next novel with not some little glee.
Recommended.
April 7, 2020
The third book in the Caleb Zelic series finds him working hard rebuilding his life and his business after the very heated ending of the previous novel, AND FIRE CAME DOWN. In the time since his on again / off again business partner Frankie has disappeared, but his ex-wife Kat, now pregnant with their child, is back. He's getting therapy for his problems (albeit frequently standing around in the Victoria Market), and he's reconnected with long time friends in the deaf community.
Newcomers to this series will find themselves having to sort through some rapid fire introductions to a very strong set of characters. Zelic is a private investigator, a deaf man with a complicated relationship with every woman in his life. Then there's Kat, his ex-wife, friend and artist, who along with her family are worthy of a novel in their own right, but Zelic is really is trying to work out what shape their future is going to take, while they both worry about the life of their baby due to past miscarriages. Finally there's business partner Frankie. She's harder to quantify, but goes from nowhere to be seen, to back in Zelic's life creating problems as always quickly. Things get ridiculously complicated when a prospective client is murdered; Frankie's sister is beaten up and her niece Tilda kidnapped. To say nothing of the lurking presence of a federal cop who may or may not be as dodgy, or not as dodgy, as Frankie. Nobody, including Zelic, can tell.
Caleb Zelic is one of those enduring crash bang sort of characters in Australian crime fiction that is capable of stuffing things up at lightning pace and resolving things at similar speed, somehow coming out of it with no clue how to make all the bad stuff never happen again. And not only is the reader happy to forgive him all of that, it's possible to actually like him for it. This is no slick, lone wolf, PI type, talking (or belting) his way into and out of trouble. He's much more of a car crash PI character who is wonderfully human, absolutely forgiveable and immensely likeable in a "come closer mate whilst I just slip my hands around your bloody stupid throat, then we'll decide if it's a hug or strangulation" way.
I admit there is always going to be a sneaking liking for an underdog in these parts, and obviously there's a level of vulnerability inherent in a character who is deaf relying on communication as a way of solving problems, but there's nothing manipulative or overtly sympathy seeking about Zelic. He beats himself up with a ferocity that allows the reader to spend a lot of time shouting "oh for goodness sake what are you doing now man" at the pages. Reading isn't often an interactive pastime, but that's just one of the pleasant surprises about this series.
A series that, in an ideal world, you'd be insisting people read from the start, although nothing's ideal these days, and what the hell. Read the Caleb Zelic series from the start, or start here, and read them backwards, individually, in any order, multiple times, anywhere, anytime. Just get on with reading these books.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Newcomers to this series will find themselves having to sort through some rapid fire introductions to a very strong set of characters. Zelic is a private investigator, a deaf man with a complicated relationship with every woman in his life. Then there's Kat, his ex-wife, friend and artist, who along with her family are worthy of a novel in their own right, but Zelic is really is trying to work out what shape their future is going to take, while they both worry about the life of their baby due to past miscarriages. Finally there's business partner Frankie. She's harder to quantify, but goes from nowhere to be seen, to back in Zelic's life creating problems as always quickly. Things get ridiculously complicated when a prospective client is murdered; Frankie's sister is beaten up and her niece Tilda kidnapped. To say nothing of the lurking presence of a federal cop who may or may not be as dodgy, or not as dodgy, as Frankie. Nobody, including Zelic, can tell.
Caleb Zelic is one of those enduring crash bang sort of characters in Australian crime fiction that is capable of stuffing things up at lightning pace and resolving things at similar speed, somehow coming out of it with no clue how to make all the bad stuff never happen again. And not only is the reader happy to forgive him all of that, it's possible to actually like him for it. This is no slick, lone wolf, PI type, talking (or belting) his way into and out of trouble. He's much more of a car crash PI character who is wonderfully human, absolutely forgiveable and immensely likeable in a "come closer mate whilst I just slip my hands around your bloody stupid throat, then we'll decide if it's a hug or strangulation" way.
I admit there is always going to be a sneaking liking for an underdog in these parts, and obviously there's a level of vulnerability inherent in a character who is deaf relying on communication as a way of solving problems, but there's nothing manipulative or overtly sympathy seeking about Zelic. He beats himself up with a ferocity that allows the reader to spend a lot of time shouting "oh for goodness sake what are you doing now man" at the pages. Reading isn't often an interactive pastime, but that's just one of the pleasant surprises about this series.
A series that, in an ideal world, you'd be insisting people read from the start, although nothing's ideal these days, and what the hell. Read the Caleb Zelic series from the start, or start here, and read them backwards, individually, in any order, multiple times, anywhere, anytime. Just get on with reading these books.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
December 16, 2019
My View:
I think I’ve been waiting all year for this book!
Those who know me personally, that is, in real life, will have heard me lament what I have experienced as a very lean year for crime fiction readers. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying that the crime fiction books I have read are lacking in readability or excitement, they have just been lacking. For some reason so many excellent literary/contemporary reads have found their way to my mail box – some truly remarkable, outstanding reads but I am at heart a crime fiction reader and reviewer...and it feels like I have been waiting for this read all year!
This is an outstanding read (and just quietly between you and me, I’ll let you know now that this book is going to tie for my best crime fiction read of the 2019!) Shhhhh…my “Best of Lists” haven’t been prepared yet but the minute I started reading this latest offering from Emma Viskic I knew that had a winner here.
I am not going to say anymore except I won’t be giving anything away but if you have enjoyed the Caleb Zelic thrillers you will adore this latest book! It is THE BEST of the three and it brings together two of my favourite characters - Frankie and Caleb – their relationship is complex and in this edition there will be revelations that will cause you palpitations. It’s not all gloom though, there is optimism and hope for the future in this read.
Enough said, look out for this book which is sure to be on many “Best of 2019” lists and I predict will earn a place in many of next year’s crime fiction wards
November 5, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of Darkness for Light, the third novel to feature Melbourne based PI Caleb Zelic.
An unfortunate encounter with a State Police detective forces Cal to get in touch with his ex-partner, Frankie, a woman on the run. With neither of them trusting each other they are forced to work together when Frankie’s niece, Tilda, is kidnapped.
I thoroughly enjoyed Darkness for Light which is a rollercoaster read full of violence, double crosses and questionable motives. The novel opens with a dead body and never lets up after that as the bodies pile up and Cal comes under repeated attack. If that’s not enough excitement the double crosses come equally thick and fast. Every character has their own agenda and doesn’t mind lying to fulfil it. The bombshells just never seem to stop and I lost count of the number of times I was surprised by a turn of events. The motives are all different but everyone is looking for the same thing and Cal is caught in the middle. This is clever, exciting read and I couldn’t put it down.
Caleb Zelic is an unusual PI in that he’s deaf. This presents problems as he lip reads to get by and it doesn’t always work in some of the situations he gets into. Recently he’s been trying to make good decisions and avoid trouble, helped by his therapist and incipient fatherhood, but this latest situation is out with his control. I like Cal, finding him resourceful and well intentioned but he’s a trouble magnet.
Darkness for Light is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
An unfortunate encounter with a State Police detective forces Cal to get in touch with his ex-partner, Frankie, a woman on the run. With neither of them trusting each other they are forced to work together when Frankie’s niece, Tilda, is kidnapped.
I thoroughly enjoyed Darkness for Light which is a rollercoaster read full of violence, double crosses and questionable motives. The novel opens with a dead body and never lets up after that as the bodies pile up and Cal comes under repeated attack. If that’s not enough excitement the double crosses come equally thick and fast. Every character has their own agenda and doesn’t mind lying to fulfil it. The bombshells just never seem to stop and I lost count of the number of times I was surprised by a turn of events. The motives are all different but everyone is looking for the same thing and Cal is caught in the middle. This is clever, exciting read and I couldn’t put it down.
Caleb Zelic is an unusual PI in that he’s deaf. This presents problems as he lip reads to get by and it doesn’t always work in some of the situations he gets into. Recently he’s been trying to make good decisions and avoid trouble, helped by his therapist and incipient fatherhood, but this latest situation is out with his control. I like Cal, finding him resourceful and well intentioned but he’s a trouble magnet.
Darkness for Light is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
December 18, 2019
Sooo good! It’s hard to make me LOL in the same story where people are being hunted down to be killed and a child is in danger, but Viskic pulls it off. If you like crime fiction check out Australian writer Emma Viskic‘s Caleb Zelic series. Caleb is deaf, which gives his investigations a unique turn.
Darkness for Light isn’t out in the U.S. until June 2020, so you have plenty of time to read her first two in the series, Resurrection Bay & And Fire Came Down.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Awaiting the paperback I ordered from Book Depository to complete the set. 🤓
Review to come.
Darkness for Light isn’t out in the U.S. until June 2020, so you have plenty of time to read her first two in the series, Resurrection Bay & And Fire Came Down.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Awaiting the paperback I ordered from Book Depository to complete the set. 🤓
Review to come.
April 26, 2020
Darkness for Light is book three in the Caleb Zelic by Emma Viskic. PI Caleb Zelic through that his life was getting back on track until his ex-partner, Frankie came back into his life. Frankie's niece is kidnapped and wanted Caleb to help. The readers will continue to follow PI Caleb Zelic and Frankie to see what happens.
I love Caleb Zelic series, and Darkness for Light did not disappoint. The way the twist and turns in this book were incorporated throughout this book ensure that I will have trouble putting the book down. I like the description of the settings and the way they complimented the plot of this book. Darkness for Light is well written and researched by Emma Viskic. I love Emma Viskic portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book.
The readers of Darkness for Light will learn about law enforcement corruption. Also, the readers of Darkness for Light will learn about what can happen if you own money to loan sharks.
I recommend this book.
I love Caleb Zelic series, and Darkness for Light did not disappoint. The way the twist and turns in this book were incorporated throughout this book ensure that I will have trouble putting the book down. I like the description of the settings and the way they complimented the plot of this book. Darkness for Light is well written and researched by Emma Viskic. I love Emma Viskic portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book.
The readers of Darkness for Light will learn about law enforcement corruption. Also, the readers of Darkness for Light will learn about what can happen if you own money to loan sharks.
I recommend this book.
February 15, 2024
The first in this series is definitely the best one. I feel like the plot was too layered and multifaceted, therefore heading in various directions and getting slightly tangled in the process. As a result, I grew a bit impatient but also listless. I wasn't that interested in some of the subplots unfolding, and it almost seemed like the author wasn't, either. The prose lost some oomph in the process, too.
Some redeeming features, but not as strong as her first novel.
Some redeeming features, but not as strong as her first novel.
March 4, 2020
Melbourne scribe Emma Viskic burst onto the crime scene a few years ago with an outstanding and unusual novel centred on deaf private eye Caleb Zelic.
Reflecting on the thousand-plus crime novels I read during the 2010s, I'd have to say RESURRECTION BAY was one of the better debuts I read - and I wasn't alone in enjoying it as it went on to scoop numerous awards at home (Davitts, Ned Kelly Award, etc), then international acclaim including two CWA Dagger shortlistings.
Caleb returned in AND FIRE CAME DOWN, and now he and Viskic and Zelic are back for a third dance in DARKNESS FOR LIGHT, a really terrific novel in what has become a very fine series.
After all that has gone before, Caleb is now trying to turn his life around.
He’s seeing a therapist, connecting more with the Melbourne deaf community that he's avoided in the past, and hoping to reconcile with his estranged wife Kat, an indigenous artist. His credo to 'make good decisions' is put to the test however when a potential client turns up dead.
Federal cops swirl around the case - what is going on?
Caleb has unwittingly got himself entangled in a web involving corruption and a kidnapped young girl - as well as the return of Caleb's dangerous former business partner and friend Frankie. The former cop is a woman who may even outdo Caleb when it comes to self-destructive tendencies.
Can Caleb trust Frankie, or is she setting him up? What about the Federal cops?
Alarms screech everywhere.
Viskic conjures a superb crime tale that moves like a bullet train while never scrimping on character depth or emotional impact. There is tonnes of intrigue in both Caleb's professional and personal life, while Viskic delivers genuine insights into her deaf characters in ways that feel pleasingly nuanced rather than tokenistic.
Overall, DARKNESS FOR LIGHT is a fresh and masterful crime tale from a hugely talented author. Well worth grabbing a copy and diving into the continuing adventures of Caleb Zelic.
Reflecting on the thousand-plus crime novels I read during the 2010s, I'd have to say RESURRECTION BAY was one of the better debuts I read - and I wasn't alone in enjoying it as it went on to scoop numerous awards at home (Davitts, Ned Kelly Award, etc), then international acclaim including two CWA Dagger shortlistings.
Caleb returned in AND FIRE CAME DOWN, and now he and Viskic and Zelic are back for a third dance in DARKNESS FOR LIGHT, a really terrific novel in what has become a very fine series.
After all that has gone before, Caleb is now trying to turn his life around.
He’s seeing a therapist, connecting more with the Melbourne deaf community that he's avoided in the past, and hoping to reconcile with his estranged wife Kat, an indigenous artist. His credo to 'make good decisions' is put to the test however when a potential client turns up dead.
Federal cops swirl around the case - what is going on?
Caleb has unwittingly got himself entangled in a web involving corruption and a kidnapped young girl - as well as the return of Caleb's dangerous former business partner and friend Frankie. The former cop is a woman who may even outdo Caleb when it comes to self-destructive tendencies.
Can Caleb trust Frankie, or is she setting him up? What about the Federal cops?
Alarms screech everywhere.
Viskic conjures a superb crime tale that moves like a bullet train while never scrimping on character depth or emotional impact. There is tonnes of intrigue in both Caleb's professional and personal life, while Viskic delivers genuine insights into her deaf characters in ways that feel pleasingly nuanced rather than tokenistic.
Overall, DARKNESS FOR LIGHT is a fresh and masterful crime tale from a hugely talented author. Well worth grabbing a copy and diving into the continuing adventures of Caleb Zelic.
January 25, 2020
A fast-paced, twisty thriller with Vickic's typically strong plotting and characterisation. Perfect for my flight home.
June 12, 2020
Very good third entry in the Caleb Zelic series set in Australia. After the experiences of the recent past, Caleb is trying to restart his life in all aspects, by avoiding the tricky situations and people who seemed to lead him, and those around him (including almost ex-wife, but now hopefully not, Kat, who he does love) into danger. Near death in the last episode. He is doing what he needs to do to keep himself on n a level ground and his relationship going well.
And then a figure from the past shows up demanding he contact Frankie, Frankie his former business partner who disappeared after saving his life. Of course she’s the one who put him in danger! There follows a plot filled with twists and turns, betrayals and counter-betrayals, all heightened by Caleb’s dependence on lip reading to supplement his powerful hearing aids. He is deaf. Something the general public has difficulty dealing with.
And, while dealing with murderous criminals, Caleb continues to work on saving his relationship with Kat, still more tenuous than he wants it to be.
This is an excellent series which I highly recommend. There is violence in service of the plot. I do recommend reading this series from the beginning if possible for the sake of the relationships, though some background information is provided throughout the novel.
4.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
And then a figure from the past shows up demanding he contact Frankie, Frankie his former business partner who disappeared after saving his life. Of course she’s the one who put him in danger! There follows a plot filled with twists and turns, betrayals and counter-betrayals, all heightened by Caleb’s dependence on lip reading to supplement his powerful hearing aids. He is deaf. Something the general public has difficulty dealing with.
And, while dealing with murderous criminals, Caleb continues to work on saving his relationship with Kat, still more tenuous than he wants it to be.
This is an excellent series which I highly recommend. There is violence in service of the plot. I do recommend reading this series from the beginning if possible for the sake of the relationships, though some background information is provided throughout the novel.
4.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2021
Darkness for Light is the third book in Emma Viskic's Private Investigator Caleb Zelic series, set in Melbourne, Australia. With an edgy protagonist and plot, the story is compelling and brimming with misdirection. Deaf since childhood and using aids, lipreading and Aussie sign language, the reader is treated to a winsome character in Caleb who is flawed and seeing a therapist. The mystery is one of betrayal and doublecrossing. Well worth a read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Pushkin via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Pushkin via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
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