When Darkness Falls: Part 1

Jack Swyteck #6 part 1 of 3

by James Grippando

Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins

From the moment Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck is called upon to defend a new client, a homeless man jailed for threatening to jump off a bridge, it's obvious something is amiss. For one thing, the man called Falcon manages to come up with the $10,000 bail . . . in cash. Then the body of a brutally murdered woman is found in the trunk of the abandoned car he's living in.

But it isn't until a panicked Falcon takes a group of innocent people hostage, including Jack's best friend, and barricades himself and his prisoners in a motel room that Swyteck realizes how much is truly at stake. For Falcon has a bigger agenda than suicide, and Jack Swyteck must get to the root of a dark history and bitter secrets before Falcon decides he has nothing to lose by killing them all.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller, Legal Thriller

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

The first thing you should know about bestselling author James Grippando is that he is no longer clueless—or so they say, after “A James Grippando Novel” was a clue for #38 Across in the New York Times crossword puzzle. James is the winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction and a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 novels to his credit, including the popular series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. His latest, "Goodbye Girl" (HarperCollins 2024), is the 18th in the Swyteck series. His novels are enjoyed worldwide in 28 languages. As an adjunct professor he teaches "The Law & Lawyers in Modern Literature" at the University of Miami School of Law. He is also counsel at one of the nation’s leading law firms, where he specializes in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing clients who have won more than 40 Tony Awards. He writes in south Florida with Atlas at his side, a faithful golden retriever who has no idea he’s a dog.
Series:
* Jack Swyteck

Reviews

[John Cress · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to try this based on the magic price of free. This was a nice surprise. I felt like it was written for some of us with A-D-D in that the chapter were short but very eventful. A lot can happen in a few pages. The main villain in the story is a homeless man that is unpredictable. Just as you start to feel for him, he reminds one as to why he is dangerous. The are other memorable characters that are easy to root for or against such as a newly blind police negotiator (for), a defense lawyer (against to an extent), an innocent man freed from prison (for), and others. Good book but there is some language so not for kids.

[Nancy Cholewczynski pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Grippando has written a compelling and moving story. When Darkness Falls incorporates all of the ingredients of a suspense filled and exciting story line. The characters are intriguing and draw you in to the situation as if it were real. The author cleverly intertwines several underlying issues to create a spellbinding book. This is a book where you can root for the good guys and see them succeed!

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Miami criminal attorney, Jack Swytech, takes on the case of a homeless man who threatened to jump off a bridge and wants to talk to the mayor's daughter, a Miami detective. The homeless guy, known as Falcon, seems harmless but that soon changes when he is released, commits a murder and kidnaps the attorney's best friend, among others, in a drawn-out hostage situation. The plot has suspense and a back story that takes place in Argentina's Dirty War where over 30,000 people disappeared without a trace because of a terrorist political junta. There are some good characters but a few were under-developed although they may appear in previous novels that I've not read.

[Meg Frank · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious and repetitive. You figure out the mystery a third of the way in and then it’s a boring hostage standoff. To add insult to injury he ends with corny banter between Theo and Jack à la Magnum PI.

[T.R. Kerby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go. It kept me guessing all the way through, right up until the last shock near the end. I loved the characters and the plot line. While it's book 6 of the John Swyteck series, it stands on its own two feet just fine. Highly recommended.

[Judy van Ryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by James Grippando that I have read. I really, really enjoyed it and intend to read more of his books. A new author for me!

[Pat Mathew]

Average read
June2019

[TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Darkness Falls, which Booklist called at the time of its publication "by far the best in the [Jack Swyteck] series," is now available as a free e-book in three parts. Part 1 includes two special essays by James Grippando that offer insight into the writing of When Darkness Falls.

About When Darkness Falls:

From the moment Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck is called upon to defend a new client—a homeless man jailed for threatening to jump off a bridge—it's obvious something is amiss. For one thing, the man called Falcon manages to come up with the $10,000 bail...in cash. Then the body of a brutally murdered woman is found in the trunk of the abandoned car he's living in.

But it isn't until a panicked Falcon takes a group of innocent people hostage, including Jack's best friend, and barricades himself and his prisoners in a motel room that Swyteck realizes how much is truly at stake. For Falcon has a bigger agenda than suicide, and Jack Swyteck must get to the root of a dark history and bitter secrets before Falcon decides he has nothing to lose by killing them all.

My Review - I can't wait to read part 2 and 3 of this book. This book sucked me in and now I'm left wondering what happens to Theo, Falcon, and all the others. Already started part 2.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 1 of 3. Variety of characters, sub-plots, pace is good. Characters are rich with history... they weren't born at the beginning of the book. The end of part 1 had a great cliff-hanger that left me hurrying to download part 2. Very well written and edited. Broad appeal.

[Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good story and I couldn't put it down and move on to the next one.

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodread thriller! Hated that I had to go right into the next book to get because there really no ending.

[Lauren Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part One sucked me in immediately. I love the main characters and can't wait to read what happens in part Two which I'm already reading.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

nook edition

[Paul Parkinson]

Captivating, as are most of his.

[Linda]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS.
RECOMMEND, GETS YOUR MIND OFF OF EVERYTHING! ENJOY