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Dark Traffic: The Dangerous Intersection of Technology, Crime, Money, Sex, and Humanity
Dark Traffic is the book that ushers the public into the next phase of anti-trafficking efforts to stop what has evolved into a $150 billion industry involving a complex network of organized crime trafficking sex, labor, and human organs. As co-founder and CEO of Dark Watch, author Noel Thomas has led United States law enforcement and the judicial system into the new battleground, where high-tech data analysis is changing how criminals are caught and prosecuted. Dark Traffic arrives on a new wave of media attention and actions at the federal, state, and local government levels, and informs listeners how they can play a role in identifying and helping stop trafficking that occurs in their own neighborhood. Noel’s story of how he became aware of the issue is proof. The trafficking game has changed drastically, and Dark Traffic will change all our perceptions of trafficking.
“Dark Traffic was written first, to provide information. The public desperately needs to have a clear and accurate understanding of the problem we’re facing, since it threatens people, we love. Second, Noel hopes this book makes people angry, because anger focused in the right direction is a powerful tool for change(?). We ought to be angry when young people are being destroyed. And third, he wants to dispel the myth that one person can’t do very much. Mass movements are made up of lots of “one persons” who come together to become one massive force for good.”
“Dark Traffic was written first, to provide information. The public desperately needs to have a clear and accurate understanding of the problem we’re facing, since it threatens people, we love. Second, Noel hopes this book makes people angry, because anger focused in the right direction is a powerful tool for change(?). We ought to be angry when young people are being destroyed. And third, he wants to dispel the myth that one person can’t do very much. Mass movements are made up of lots of “one persons” who come together to become one massive force for good.”
- GenresAudiobook
176 pages, Hardcover
Published July 30, 2024
3 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 9, 2025
I rarely write reviews this negative, but slogging through Dark Traffic by Noel Thomas was one of the most tedious reading experiences I’ve endured in years. The book promises to “usher the public into the next phase of anti-trafficking efforts” and claims to offer vital insights into a $150 billion criminal industry. Instead, what it delivers is a repetitive, preachy, and often painfully dull lecture that feels more like a pulpit sermon than an investigative exposé.
Let’s start with the pacing: Dark Traffic is, quite simply, boring. Thomas spends page after page reiterating the same points about the horrors of trafficking, rarely offering new information or perspectives. The narrative is so bogged down by moralizing and self-congratulatory anecdotes that any sense of urgency or narrative drive is lost. The book reads less like a call to action and more like a never-ending sermon, where the author’s voice drones on without pause or nuance.
But the real dealbreaker is how relentlessly Thomas shoehorns his religious beliefs into every possible moment. It’s not just an occasional reference to faith or values, his evangelical worldview saturates the book, often derailing the discussion of trafficking to focus on personal testimonies, gospel messages, and overt appeals to Christian salvation. Even in interviews and podcasts, Thomas makes it clear that his “deep faith” and the “hope of the gospel” are central to his approach, regardless of the reader’s background or expectations. For a book that claims to be a guide for “families and communities,” this relentless proselytizing is alienating and, frankly, exhausting.
Instead of providing a nuanced, investigative look at the intersection of technology and trafficking, Thomas seems more interested in converting his audience than informing them. The result is a book that feels less like a resource for understanding a global crisis and more like a platform for the author’s personal crusade.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful, well-researched exploration of human trafficking, look elsewhere. Dark Traffic is a slog... boring, preachy, and so saturated with the author’s religious agenda that it drowns out any meaningful discussion of the actual issue. Save your time and your money.
Let’s start with the pacing: Dark Traffic is, quite simply, boring. Thomas spends page after page reiterating the same points about the horrors of trafficking, rarely offering new information or perspectives. The narrative is so bogged down by moralizing and self-congratulatory anecdotes that any sense of urgency or narrative drive is lost. The book reads less like a call to action and more like a never-ending sermon, where the author’s voice drones on without pause or nuance.
But the real dealbreaker is how relentlessly Thomas shoehorns his religious beliefs into every possible moment. It’s not just an occasional reference to faith or values, his evangelical worldview saturates the book, often derailing the discussion of trafficking to focus on personal testimonies, gospel messages, and overt appeals to Christian salvation. Even in interviews and podcasts, Thomas makes it clear that his “deep faith” and the “hope of the gospel” are central to his approach, regardless of the reader’s background or expectations. For a book that claims to be a guide for “families and communities,” this relentless proselytizing is alienating and, frankly, exhausting.
Instead of providing a nuanced, investigative look at the intersection of technology and trafficking, Thomas seems more interested in converting his audience than informing them. The result is a book that feels less like a resource for understanding a global crisis and more like a platform for the author’s personal crusade.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful, well-researched exploration of human trafficking, look elsewhere. Dark Traffic is a slog... boring, preachy, and so saturated with the author’s religious agenda that it drowns out any meaningful discussion of the actual issue. Save your time and your money.
August 22, 2024
I will 5 ⭐️ every book that educates about human trafficking. The author broke down the various sectors of trafficking and gave tangible real-life stories of how it’s intertwined with major criminal networks, organized crime, the elite, etc. I’m rooting for this guy and his company and it was interesting learning about the origins of his company and what it does to combat human trafficking. Save the children, protect the innocent. I still feel like I am on the hunt for answers to my question of “what can I actually do to contribute to stopping this” besides donating money and having discussions about the topic.
October 24, 2025
Quizá de los peores libros que he leído y, peor, uno al que llegué con mucha expectativa. El trabajo que hace Dark Watch es una de las cosas más admirables que hay y pocas cosas podrán lograr el impacto de la lucha que hacen Thomas y sus socios para luchar contra el tráfico humano en todas sus formas.
Pero como narrador es más miserable que el acto mismo que narra. Es un repetitivo camino de momentos de gente, con las reglas cliché que todo aquel que no esté metido en una cueva sabe sobre proteger y educar a la gente sobre los riesgos del tráfico en la era digital. Esperaba algo mas que una lista de anécdotas pintadas con cotas bíblicas cada cuatro párrafos. Que cada quien tenga la religión que quiera. Pero cuando uno de los personajes que fuera de las agencias policiales diga “terminaremos con esto por la gracia de Dios” cada tres pinches líneas te da desesperanza por la lucha misma. Nada recomendable.
Pero como narrador es más miserable que el acto mismo que narra. Es un repetitivo camino de momentos de gente, con las reglas cliché que todo aquel que no esté metido en una cueva sabe sobre proteger y educar a la gente sobre los riesgos del tráfico en la era digital. Esperaba algo mas que una lista de anécdotas pintadas con cotas bíblicas cada cuatro párrafos. Que cada quien tenga la religión que quiera. Pero cuando uno de los personajes que fuera de las agencias policiales diga “terminaremos con esto por la gracia de Dios” cada tres pinches líneas te da desesperanza por la lucha misma. Nada recomendable.
January 11, 2025
Got to meet Noel a few months ago, so it was amazing to read his book. Love the continual intertwining of scripture in this book. While it talked a lot about his product he also educated me a ton on the world of trafficking.
March 7, 2025
I would give this a solid 4.5. Took off half a star as there are a lot of religion comparisons which I am not a fan of and they were not mentioned in the blurb of the book. Overall the information is spot on.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews