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Cameron Winter Mystery #5
After That, the Dark
In this newest entry in Andrew Klavan’s USA Today bestselling Cameron Winter series, the ex-spy turned English professor finds love—and murder.
Cameron Winter is falling in love. After finally working up the courage to contact the attractive therapist Gwendolyn Lord, he finds himself immersed in a passion that feels heaven-sent. When Gwendolyn tells him about a true-life “locked room mystery,” Winter feels compelled to investigate.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a solid citizen named Owen McKay suddenly went mad and killed his wife and child. Locked in a padded cell and monitored on video, he was nonetheless discovered dead from a projectile fired into his head. As Winter begins to ask questions, he finds Tulsa officials have been intimidated into silence by a killer who once tried to attack Winter during his days as a government assassin. What’s more, another mysterious death, just like McKay’s, has taken place in Connecticut. And both murders seem linked to a sinister billionaire who once clashed with Winter’s old mentor, the Recruiter.
Winter’s past and present are coming together in a single dangerous conspiracy. And though Winter desperately wants to escape his career as an assassin, his love for Gwendolyn is deepening quickly and he will do anything—and kill anyone—to protect her.
Cameron Winter is falling in love. After finally working up the courage to contact the attractive therapist Gwendolyn Lord, he finds himself immersed in a passion that feels heaven-sent. When Gwendolyn tells him about a true-life “locked room mystery,” Winter feels compelled to investigate.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a solid citizen named Owen McKay suddenly went mad and killed his wife and child. Locked in a padded cell and monitored on video, he was nonetheless discovered dead from a projectile fired into his head. As Winter begins to ask questions, he finds Tulsa officials have been intimidated into silence by a killer who once tried to attack Winter during his days as a government assassin. What’s more, another mysterious death, just like McKay’s, has taken place in Connecticut. And both murders seem linked to a sinister billionaire who once clashed with Winter’s old mentor, the Recruiter.
Winter’s past and present are coming together in a single dangerous conspiracy. And though Winter desperately wants to escape his career as an assassin, his love for Gwendolyn is deepening quickly and he will do anything—and kill anyone—to protect her.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published October 28, 2025
160 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
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Andrew Klavan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
November 9, 2025
Superb installment in Klavan's always great Cameron Winter novels.
July 27, 2025
4.7 stars, rounded up and well deserved
What can I say, this is Andrew Klavan at his best. Part redemptive growth, part love story, part mystery, part technothriller, part race against the clock, part mercenary chase, and all thrill ride – this read is spectacular.
Klavan himself says that you can start at this book like a standalone and then go back to the beginning with When Christmas Comes. While the mystery itself is separate, we do get background and growth that builds off of the previous books. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you start with this one unless you just don’t want to commit to a series. If that’s the case, then this is still well worth jumping into.
So, in this fifth installment of the series, we continue to follow (totally, for sure normal, everyday) English professor Cameron Winter along a difficult and dangerous path toward healing. He finds himself opening up toward pursuing a healthy relationship when he hears about a locked room mystery. Wanting to impress the woman, he takes on the case. Now he's in the middle of this mystery turned thrilling, clock ticking pursuit, all the while uncovering high level corruption and a possible coverup that hit far too close to home for Winter when they involve the Recruiter.
What I liked:
Gosh, where to begin? Though written in third person, the monologues and the way that Klavan expresses the characters’ inner thoughts were exquisite. And some of the lines were such zingers, it had me laughing out loud! You wouldn’t think this kind of story would have me kicking my feet, but you’d be wrong. In addition to laughing out loud, I got goosebumps in other parts and read fast in others because the fast-paced thrill. The creepiness of specific scenes was well written in that it was only in small sections and the worst of it was implied (very effectively) as experienced through the potential victim. Now, Klavan’s writing has been great this whole series, but I would say it’s turned up in this book. This book was an experience and the best in the series thus far.
Winter’s character growth in this book is amazing, but it’s not an unrealistic progression. His growth is a direct result of the work he’s done in the previous books. The reader has been with him since the beginning of the series so we’re cheering him on. I do love that even though Winter struggles with his emotions, who he is, what he believes in, and how to allow himself to be loved, he never betrays his values. Klavan writes the values so well into Winter’s decision making and in describing his thoughts. I also enjoyed the portrayal of the women in the story – it’s honestly so refreshing and very real.
Things that weren't my favorite:
I had a smidgen of trouble keeping the timeline straight, but only with the italicized storytelling sessions shared with the therapist. And more of a neutral comment, but Klavan has a minor style point of writing repeated adjectives within the same sentence or paragraph. I don't know why but it’s just peculiar, though it doesn't take away from my experience.
This is maybe my 14th Klavan read and he's at the top of his game here. Bottom line, this series is not one to sleep on. I highlighted a few lines that have me speculating where this series will go from here, but I have high high hopes!
Special thanks to the author Andrew Klavan (with an A), Penzler Publishers, and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
What can I say, this is Andrew Klavan at his best. Part redemptive growth, part love story, part mystery, part technothriller, part race against the clock, part mercenary chase, and all thrill ride – this read is spectacular.
Klavan himself says that you can start at this book like a standalone and then go back to the beginning with When Christmas Comes. While the mystery itself is separate, we do get background and growth that builds off of the previous books. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you start with this one unless you just don’t want to commit to a series. If that’s the case, then this is still well worth jumping into.
So, in this fifth installment of the series, we continue to follow (totally, for sure normal, everyday) English professor Cameron Winter along a difficult and dangerous path toward healing. He finds himself opening up toward pursuing a healthy relationship when he hears about a locked room mystery. Wanting to impress the woman, he takes on the case. Now he's in the middle of this mystery turned thrilling, clock ticking pursuit, all the while uncovering high level corruption and a possible coverup that hit far too close to home for Winter when they involve the Recruiter.
What I liked:
Gosh, where to begin? Though written in third person, the monologues and the way that Klavan expresses the characters’ inner thoughts were exquisite. And some of the lines were such zingers, it had me laughing out loud! You wouldn’t think this kind of story would have me kicking my feet, but you’d be wrong. In addition to laughing out loud, I got goosebumps in other parts and read fast in others because the fast-paced thrill. The creepiness of specific scenes was well written in that it was only in small sections and the worst of it was implied (very effectively) as experienced through the potential victim. Now, Klavan’s writing has been great this whole series, but I would say it’s turned up in this book. This book was an experience and the best in the series thus far.
Winter’s character growth in this book is amazing, but it’s not an unrealistic progression. His growth is a direct result of the work he’s done in the previous books. The reader has been with him since the beginning of the series so we’re cheering him on. I do love that even though Winter struggles with his emotions, who he is, what he believes in, and how to allow himself to be loved, he never betrays his values. Klavan writes the values so well into Winter’s decision making and in describing his thoughts. I also enjoyed the portrayal of the women in the story – it’s honestly so refreshing and very real.
Things that weren't my favorite:
I had a smidgen of trouble keeping the timeline straight, but only with the italicized storytelling sessions shared with the therapist. And more of a neutral comment, but Klavan has a minor style point of writing repeated adjectives within the same sentence or paragraph. I don't know why but it’s just peculiar, though it doesn't take away from my experience.
This is maybe my 14th Klavan read and he's at the top of his game here. Bottom line, this series is not one to sleep on. I highlighted a few lines that have me speculating where this series will go from here, but I have high high hopes!
Special thanks to the author Andrew Klavan (with an A), Penzler Publishers, and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
November 1, 2025
So so good. Could hardly put it down!
October 31, 2025
This is a good and fun mystery, though the last act fell short. It felt more rushed than the first book in the series. Most of the mysteries were solved easily, and Winter’s university job felt like too much of an afterthought to the book.
November 27, 2025
Best Cameron Winter book so far
November 30, 2025
So good. This series continues to get better & better. I wished I didn’t have to wait so long for the next one!!
November 26, 2025
Let me fangirl for a minute. I am not a person who eagerly awaits the latest release in a series, and pre-orders books as soon as they become available. Usually, I am the one who discovers the series 20 years after it came out. In fact, this series by Klavan is the only exception I can think of. I pre-ordered After That, and it came, as promised, on Halloween.
This is the fifth book in the Cameron Winter series. The other books are When Christmas Comes (Sets up Winter’s history, shrink, and issues); A Strange Habit of Mind (I like it because my mind is also strange); The House of Love and Death (Tragic!); and A Woman Underground (Also tragic, but satisfying). After That, the Dark takes Winter on the next stage of his journey. It’s designed to be readable as a stand-alone, but you will find it more satisfying if you’ve been with him all along.
The Basic Review:
Like every Winter book, this one deals with Winter’s psychological journey, and on a parallel track there is an equally devastating crime that he is trying to solve and, inevitably, prevent. Subplots include Winter’s love life and his battles with the leftie professors at the university where he is an English professor.
The title for this book is taken from a poem by English Romantic poet Tennyson:
… Who imagined that his death would be like sailing over the sandbar near the coast and out into the greater ocean.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
ibid, p. 160
Cameron Winter’s academic specialty is English Romantic poetry (about which Klavan recently published a book, himself). Throughout this series, it’s sort of felt as if Klavan wants to have the best of both worlds with his hero. Winter is a former government operative, a dangerous man, and also a soft, spiritual guy who just wants everyone to appreciate poetry. Sort of like a medieval knight. I haven’t felt that this tension was 100% successful in past books, although it does lead to the Superman dynamic where the nerdy guy takes off his glasses and messes up the bad guys good, which is always fun. But in this volume, Winter starts to integrate these two different sides of his personality.
The crimes in this book deal with transhumanism. The victims and potential victims are mothers and babies. One potential victim is an expectant mother who has noticed changes in her husband and can’t articulate them well enough to get anyone to believe her. It’s the kind of thing I wouldn’t have been able to handle a few years ago, when my kids were smaller. I kept reading only because this is Klavan, and I know he doesn’t like stories where women get butchered gratuitously. “Look, when there’s a killer chasing a girl with a knife, I’m on the side of the girl!”
So, if you like poetry, action scenes, demonic possession, or personal growth, you will get all of that here. It’s not exactly like any other action/crime book I’ve read. The hero is usually wrestling with his own demons, but in other books he doesn’t spend so much time talking to his shrink. It’s a bold move on Klavan’s part to allow the hero to actually start beating the personal demons. I don’t know how he’s going to continue a noir-type series once his hero becomes psychologically healthy, but I’m sure he’ll find a way.
As you can see, I’m a little conflicted about Cameron Winter. But I still wholeheartedly give this book five stars, and if you want to find out why, read on for some major spoilers.
Spoilers … and Jesus:
I have mentioned before that what I live for in books is when the characters’ concrete experience and myth coalesce, so they are walking the specific path in front of them, but also enacting a mythological scene at the same time. This is a little hard to describe, but you know it when you see it. It’s what makes great art.
This fusion of the everyday and the eternal is most often found in the fantasy or sci-fi genres, because to be honest, it’s easiest to set up there. But to my delight, Klavan has here pulled it off in a modern thriller/true-crime type novel.
Let’s go back to the pregnant woman who starts to suspect her husband. Her name is Tilda, a name probably chosen for how vulnerable it makes her sound. Tilda used to be a “bar girl,” one of the town’s easy marks. Then, her husband Martin picked her up with the line, “Do you have a minute to talk about Jesus Christ?” Tilda thought that was a pretty good joke, but then Martin actually did. He actually did talk to her about Jesus Christ. And he was a perfect gentleman. Tilda married him, and she became a Christian and her life completely changed. But now, the man who led her to this change seems to have become a completely different person and Tilda, understandably, doubts herself. Sometimes, she secretly wonders whether she’s really faking this whole Jesus thing.
Winter, meanwhile, is on the track of a man he knows is out there. He knows this man will have undergone a dramatic personality change recently, and that if not found he will begin to commit gruesome crimes. Winter, though an atheist, is dating a Christian girl and she has given him a cross for his spiritual protection. Winter keeps the cross in the coin pocket of his jeans. When the bad guys, after beating him rather severely, have him handcuffed to a chair, he is able to get the cross out and use it to pick the locks on the cuffs. There follows an action scene wherein Winter, still holding the cross, manages to escape the bad guys and run barefoot into a cornfield. As he runs, a cornstalk punctures his foot. When he finally stops running and wonders why his hand hurts, he looks down and finds that the cross has pierced the inside of his fist. He has to dig it out.
When I read that, I looked up and said to my husband, “The hero just received stigmata.”
But Klavan isn’t done with Winter yet.
Tilda, meanwhile, is tied up in the crawlspace in a house her husband has been working on. She knows her husband is about to come and finish her off. Her mind is a hurricane of incoherent prayers for Jesus to spare her unborn baby.
Then Winter shows up, having already decommissioned the husband outside. Because he has been beaten so badly, his face is a swollen mess, “like a monster.” And the first thing he says to Tilda is exactly what I knew he would say:
“Don’t be afraid.”
This is how Jesus comes to us. “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being, and his form marred beyond human likeness.” (Isaiah 52:14) He shows up looking like that, and He says to us, “Fear not.”
As Winter strives to calm Tilda down enough to rescue her, he keeps saying the sorts of things that Jesus says:
“Listen to me,” the man said. “I’m going to use a knife. No, no, it’s all right, don’t be afraid. I’m going to use a knife to cut you free. It will look scary, but I will not hurt you. Nothing will hurt you now, but I have to cut you free. Don’t be afraid.”
… The man had climbed out of the space. He was above her again, reaching down for her with both hands.
“[Your husband] is not here. Let me get hold of you. Don’t you hold on to me,” he said. “I’m stronger. Let me hold on to you.”
… Tilda was crying hard now. “I prayed to Jesus and you came,” she explained.
“Oh. Well, good,” said the man. “It’s nice when things happen that way.”
ibid, pp. 305 – 307
That last line, by the way, shows that Klavan is not trying too hard with Winter. Nor is he writing an allegory. This kind of double vision in a book is all the harder to do when you let it grow naturally out of the story and don’t force it. Kudos.
This is the fifth book in the Cameron Winter series. The other books are When Christmas Comes (Sets up Winter’s history, shrink, and issues); A Strange Habit of Mind (I like it because my mind is also strange); The House of Love and Death (Tragic!); and A Woman Underground (Also tragic, but satisfying). After That, the Dark takes Winter on the next stage of his journey. It’s designed to be readable as a stand-alone, but you will find it more satisfying if you’ve been with him all along.
The Basic Review:
Like every Winter book, this one deals with Winter’s psychological journey, and on a parallel track there is an equally devastating crime that he is trying to solve and, inevitably, prevent. Subplots include Winter’s love life and his battles with the leftie professors at the university where he is an English professor.
The title for this book is taken from a poem by English Romantic poet Tennyson:
… Who imagined that his death would be like sailing over the sandbar near the coast and out into the greater ocean.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
ibid, p. 160
Cameron Winter’s academic specialty is English Romantic poetry (about which Klavan recently published a book, himself). Throughout this series, it’s sort of felt as if Klavan wants to have the best of both worlds with his hero. Winter is a former government operative, a dangerous man, and also a soft, spiritual guy who just wants everyone to appreciate poetry. Sort of like a medieval knight. I haven’t felt that this tension was 100% successful in past books, although it does lead to the Superman dynamic where the nerdy guy takes off his glasses and messes up the bad guys good, which is always fun. But in this volume, Winter starts to integrate these two different sides of his personality.
The crimes in this book deal with transhumanism. The victims and potential victims are mothers and babies. One potential victim is an expectant mother who has noticed changes in her husband and can’t articulate them well enough to get anyone to believe her. It’s the kind of thing I wouldn’t have been able to handle a few years ago, when my kids were smaller. I kept reading only because this is Klavan, and I know he doesn’t like stories where women get butchered gratuitously. “Look, when there’s a killer chasing a girl with a knife, I’m on the side of the girl!”
So, if you like poetry, action scenes, demonic possession, or personal growth, you will get all of that here. It’s not exactly like any other action/crime book I’ve read. The hero is usually wrestling with his own demons, but in other books he doesn’t spend so much time talking to his shrink. It’s a bold move on Klavan’s part to allow the hero to actually start beating the personal demons. I don’t know how he’s going to continue a noir-type series once his hero becomes psychologically healthy, but I’m sure he’ll find a way.
As you can see, I’m a little conflicted about Cameron Winter. But I still wholeheartedly give this book five stars, and if you want to find out why, read on for some major spoilers.
Spoilers … and Jesus:
I have mentioned before that what I live for in books is when the characters’ concrete experience and myth coalesce, so they are walking the specific path in front of them, but also enacting a mythological scene at the same time. This is a little hard to describe, but you know it when you see it. It’s what makes great art.
This fusion of the everyday and the eternal is most often found in the fantasy or sci-fi genres, because to be honest, it’s easiest to set up there. But to my delight, Klavan has here pulled it off in a modern thriller/true-crime type novel.
Let’s go back to the pregnant woman who starts to suspect her husband. Her name is Tilda, a name probably chosen for how vulnerable it makes her sound. Tilda used to be a “bar girl,” one of the town’s easy marks. Then, her husband Martin picked her up with the line, “Do you have a minute to talk about Jesus Christ?” Tilda thought that was a pretty good joke, but then Martin actually did. He actually did talk to her about Jesus Christ. And he was a perfect gentleman. Tilda married him, and she became a Christian and her life completely changed. But now, the man who led her to this change seems to have become a completely different person and Tilda, understandably, doubts herself. Sometimes, she secretly wonders whether she’s really faking this whole Jesus thing.
Winter, meanwhile, is on the track of a man he knows is out there. He knows this man will have undergone a dramatic personality change recently, and that if not found he will begin to commit gruesome crimes. Winter, though an atheist, is dating a Christian girl and she has given him a cross for his spiritual protection. Winter keeps the cross in the coin pocket of his jeans. When the bad guys, after beating him rather severely, have him handcuffed to a chair, he is able to get the cross out and use it to pick the locks on the cuffs. There follows an action scene wherein Winter, still holding the cross, manages to escape the bad guys and run barefoot into a cornfield. As he runs, a cornstalk punctures his foot. When he finally stops running and wonders why his hand hurts, he looks down and finds that the cross has pierced the inside of his fist. He has to dig it out.
When I read that, I looked up and said to my husband, “The hero just received stigmata.”
But Klavan isn’t done with Winter yet.
Tilda, meanwhile, is tied up in the crawlspace in a house her husband has been working on. She knows her husband is about to come and finish her off. Her mind is a hurricane of incoherent prayers for Jesus to spare her unborn baby.
Then Winter shows up, having already decommissioned the husband outside. Because he has been beaten so badly, his face is a swollen mess, “like a monster.” And the first thing he says to Tilda is exactly what I knew he would say:
“Don’t be afraid.”
This is how Jesus comes to us. “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being, and his form marred beyond human likeness.” (Isaiah 52:14) He shows up looking like that, and He says to us, “Fear not.”
As Winter strives to calm Tilda down enough to rescue her, he keeps saying the sorts of things that Jesus says:
“Listen to me,” the man said. “I’m going to use a knife. No, no, it’s all right, don’t be afraid. I’m going to use a knife to cut you free. It will look scary, but I will not hurt you. Nothing will hurt you now, but I have to cut you free. Don’t be afraid.”
… The man had climbed out of the space. He was above her again, reaching down for her with both hands.
“[Your husband] is not here. Let me get hold of you. Don’t you hold on to me,” he said. “I’m stronger. Let me hold on to you.”
… Tilda was crying hard now. “I prayed to Jesus and you came,” she explained.
“Oh. Well, good,” said the man. “It’s nice when things happen that way.”
ibid, pp. 305 – 307
That last line, by the way, shows that Klavan is not trying too hard with Winter. Nor is he writing an allegory. This kind of double vision in a book is all the harder to do when you let it grow naturally out of the story and don’t force it. Kudos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to preview After That, the Dark.
This is a series book and I have not read any previous novels. I think this was a disadvantage because the lead character has a past that was unknown to me as the reader.
The protagonist is a high level reformed killer but is now a professor.
He becomes involved with a strange case and gets involved as a result of the relationship.
A mix of mystery and romance makes it a good book and fans of the series will enjoy the book
3 stars
This is a series book and I have not read any previous novels. I think this was a disadvantage because the lead character has a past that was unknown to me as the reader.
The protagonist is a high level reformed killer but is now a professor.
He becomes involved with a strange case and gets involved as a result of the relationship.
A mix of mystery and romance makes it a good book and fans of the series will enjoy the book
3 stars
Read
November 8, 2025Andrew Klavan has long been a superiour writer of crime fiction and psychological thrillers with some of his best-selling title being turned into hit feature films. Recently, his terrific series starring former spy turned college Literature Professor Cameron Winter has given us stellar stories told in classic hard-boiled style and the latest entry is entitled AFTER THAT, THE DARK.
What I particularly loved about this novel is how it not only continues the hard-boiled storytelling but also skims the surface of both science fiction and horror, with elements of medical technology conspiracies along with some potential supernatural plot lines driving this tense story forward. Klavan is also known for his strong faith, and I enjoyed seeing the novel open with a biblical quote from Matthew as well as some of the characters discussing their faith in Jesus Christ. At one point, Cameron Winter mentions how he was pointing to religious fundamentalism in our country as being a joke, then confessing that this joke masked his steadfast faith in God.
During the Prologue we witness a family in crisis. Tilda Bach is pregnant with her first child yet suspicious and fearful of her husband Martin who has recently shown an unnatural dark side almost as if he were possessed by something evil that was turning him against her. This story plays perfectly into the narrative to come as Cameron Winter becomes involved in a pair of cases where the individuals at the center of two crimes are described as being possessed by the devil. These incidents also end up tying into a plotline involving Cameron’s long-time handler in his spy days, The Recruiter, who may be in danger.
In a series of flashbacks that Cameron is sharing with his therapist, we see a case where he was on assignment for The Recruiter and targeting a wealthy villain named Thaddeus Blatt who had an evil tattooed henchman who made it a point to end Cameron’s life in violent fashion. On a positive note, Cameron may have finally found true love in the form of Gwendolyn Lord, for whom he would do anything. She tells him about a case involving a 37-year-old man named Owen McKay who surprisingly stabbed both his wife and child to death and later killed himself in prison. For some reason then unbeknownst to him, Cameron takes personal interest in this case and temporarily leaves his teaching role to investigate.
Cameron’s investigation turns out some interesting evidence. First of all, anyone who knew the computer repairman Owen McKay had nothing but positive things to say about him and his family. We also learn from the initial unpublished autopsy that McKay may not have been a victim of possession but rather was operated like a puppet due to a wire that was found implanted in his brain. The fact that McKay killed himself with a homemade wooden nail-gun, filled with sharpened wooden nails, is highly suspicious. The autopsy report is redacted and released with false findings that Cameron becomes obsessed about exposing. His case is supported when a second situation, this one involving a man in Connecticut named Harris Turner who was accused of killing a young girl and fleeing the scene of the crime. We later learn that he may have had a brain implant as well.
While all of this is going on Cameron’s life is put in danger when the tattooed assassin from his past returns and attempts to kill him. Cameron reconnects with The Recruiter, who is retired and in hiding, and realizes that the past has caught up with the present and Cameron and everyone in his life are in danger. He is fine operating under this pressure, but once his new love interest Gwendolyn is threatened, the gloves come completely off as Cameron channels his former self to go on attack mode to take down his enemies before they can hurt him or his circle of special people.
AFTER THAT, THE DARK is certainly the darkest and most suspenseful entry in this excellent series and Cameron Winter is such a unique protagonist to root for. Klavan has created a distinctive character that readers will follow anywhere.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
What I particularly loved about this novel is how it not only continues the hard-boiled storytelling but also skims the surface of both science fiction and horror, with elements of medical technology conspiracies along with some potential supernatural plot lines driving this tense story forward. Klavan is also known for his strong faith, and I enjoyed seeing the novel open with a biblical quote from Matthew as well as some of the characters discussing their faith in Jesus Christ. At one point, Cameron Winter mentions how he was pointing to religious fundamentalism in our country as being a joke, then confessing that this joke masked his steadfast faith in God.
During the Prologue we witness a family in crisis. Tilda Bach is pregnant with her first child yet suspicious and fearful of her husband Martin who has recently shown an unnatural dark side almost as if he were possessed by something evil that was turning him against her. This story plays perfectly into the narrative to come as Cameron Winter becomes involved in a pair of cases where the individuals at the center of two crimes are described as being possessed by the devil. These incidents also end up tying into a plotline involving Cameron’s long-time handler in his spy days, The Recruiter, who may be in danger.
In a series of flashbacks that Cameron is sharing with his therapist, we see a case where he was on assignment for The Recruiter and targeting a wealthy villain named Thaddeus Blatt who had an evil tattooed henchman who made it a point to end Cameron’s life in violent fashion. On a positive note, Cameron may have finally found true love in the form of Gwendolyn Lord, for whom he would do anything. She tells him about a case involving a 37-year-old man named Owen McKay who surprisingly stabbed both his wife and child to death and later killed himself in prison. For some reason then unbeknownst to him, Cameron takes personal interest in this case and temporarily leaves his teaching role to investigate.
Cameron’s investigation turns out some interesting evidence. First of all, anyone who knew the computer repairman Owen McKay had nothing but positive things to say about him and his family. We also learn from the initial unpublished autopsy that McKay may not have been a victim of possession but rather was operated like a puppet due to a wire that was found implanted in his brain. The fact that McKay killed himself with a homemade wooden nail-gun, filled with sharpened wooden nails, is highly suspicious. The autopsy report is redacted and released with false findings that Cameron becomes obsessed about exposing. His case is supported when a second situation, this one involving a man in Connecticut named Harris Turner who was accused of killing a young girl and fleeing the scene of the crime. We later learn that he may have had a brain implant as well.
While all of this is going on Cameron’s life is put in danger when the tattooed assassin from his past returns and attempts to kill him. Cameron reconnects with The Recruiter, who is retired and in hiding, and realizes that the past has caught up with the present and Cameron and everyone in his life are in danger. He is fine operating under this pressure, but once his new love interest Gwendolyn is threatened, the gloves come completely off as Cameron channels his former self to go on attack mode to take down his enemies before they can hurt him or his circle of special people.
AFTER THAT, THE DARK is certainly the darkest and most suspenseful entry in this excellent series and Cameron Winter is such a unique protagonist to root for. Klavan has created a distinctive character that readers will follow anywhere.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
November 14, 2025
Former government assassin Cameron Winter is in love with Gwendolyn Lord. She tells a story of a murder in a police lockup that makes no sense, a locked room mystery. Cameron decides to investigate and finds a conspiracy to create brain technology that would turn evil people into decent people. They are released from prison and the technology begins to fail, which allows their true nature to come out. In the course of his investigation, Winters runs up against some of the people he used to deal with during his time in the government, including a very violent tattooed man.
November 10, 2025
So good! Possibly the best in the series so far, well worth the read!
October 27, 2025
There's no such thing as an impossible murder
Cameron Winter finds himself on the verge of falling in love. While that is not a condition that most find earth shattering, for Winter it is an almost impossible to fathom occurrence. He is currently employed as a professor of English literature - his specialty is, ironically, English Romantic poetry - but it is his past as a former contract killer/spy/manipulator for a dark group within the government that has made him an unlikely candidate for happily ever after. When he shares details of his past career with Gwendolyn, the object of his affection, and talks about his odd gift (which he refers to as his "strange habit of mind"), she mentions an unusual case that an old friend of hers had shared with her recently. A man, by all accounts a model citizen, murdered his wife and child and then somehow was able to commit suicide in his jail cell. Winter isn't sure if he is intrigued by the tale or if he just wants to impress Gwendolyn, but off he sets to Oklahoma to look into what happened. What he discovers is chilling...there is clearly more to the story than has been publicly revealed but everyone connected to the case is keeping silent (mostly through intimidation from above and around). Worse still, there is a second case elsewhere that bears the same hallmarks...and it soon becomes clear that there is a third that could be about to happen, Threats appear from a sinister assassin with whom Winter had crossed paths back when he was in the killing business himself, and WInter's former boss and mentor the Recruiter is being hunted by the same forces behind the killings. Is Winter's past coming back to haunt him just when he is ready to embark on a new life? Or must he accept who he was and what he did and integrate it into his new self if he hopes to have a future?
In this, the fifth outing featuring anti-hero Cameron Winter, it seems as if Winter's breakthrough emotional moment may well be overturned by his turbulent past. As he relates the goings on in his life to his therapist Margaret, he is unravelling the threads which lead to an evil conspiracy that may be tied to the Recruiter, the government, a powerful and well-connected billionaire, a medical research company, or an unholy alliance between some or all of the above. What would make a loving husband, solid family man and well-liked neighbor kill his family? Who is pulling the strings to keep the cases from being fully pursued? Was it just a coincidence that Gwendolyn told Winter of the strange happenings, or has he been manipulated by unknown forces to investigate the matter? Perhaps more importantly, can his burgeoning relationship withstand the fallout when Winter starts poking around in areas where his interest is not welcomed? After That the Dark is another 5 ⭐️ tale from author Andrew Klavan, dark and hypnotic, with equal parts introspection and action. Winter is a fascinating enigma whose journey towards self acceptance is chronicled with wit and compassion, and the mystery at the center of the book is sure to keep even seasoned thriller fans guessing till the end. Winter is fighting his personal demons of guilt and self-loathing even as he must fight some truly nasty antagonists in the outside world. The novel can be read as a standalone, but those who have read the earlier installments will have more context about who Winter was, who he is trying to be, and what landed him on Margaret's couch in the first place. Fans of the series are sure to enjoy this latest in the series, as will readers of Harlan Coben, Dean Koontz and Gregg Hurwitz. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for allowing me access to this clever and morally complex tale in exchange for my honest review.. I eagerly await what happens next!
Cameron Winter finds himself on the verge of falling in love. While that is not a condition that most find earth shattering, for Winter it is an almost impossible to fathom occurrence. He is currently employed as a professor of English literature - his specialty is, ironically, English Romantic poetry - but it is his past as a former contract killer/spy/manipulator for a dark group within the government that has made him an unlikely candidate for happily ever after. When he shares details of his past career with Gwendolyn, the object of his affection, and talks about his odd gift (which he refers to as his "strange habit of mind"), she mentions an unusual case that an old friend of hers had shared with her recently. A man, by all accounts a model citizen, murdered his wife and child and then somehow was able to commit suicide in his jail cell. Winter isn't sure if he is intrigued by the tale or if he just wants to impress Gwendolyn, but off he sets to Oklahoma to look into what happened. What he discovers is chilling...there is clearly more to the story than has been publicly revealed but everyone connected to the case is keeping silent (mostly through intimidation from above and around). Worse still, there is a second case elsewhere that bears the same hallmarks...and it soon becomes clear that there is a third that could be about to happen, Threats appear from a sinister assassin with whom Winter had crossed paths back when he was in the killing business himself, and WInter's former boss and mentor the Recruiter is being hunted by the same forces behind the killings. Is Winter's past coming back to haunt him just when he is ready to embark on a new life? Or must he accept who he was and what he did and integrate it into his new self if he hopes to have a future?
In this, the fifth outing featuring anti-hero Cameron Winter, it seems as if Winter's breakthrough emotional moment may well be overturned by his turbulent past. As he relates the goings on in his life to his therapist Margaret, he is unravelling the threads which lead to an evil conspiracy that may be tied to the Recruiter, the government, a powerful and well-connected billionaire, a medical research company, or an unholy alliance between some or all of the above. What would make a loving husband, solid family man and well-liked neighbor kill his family? Who is pulling the strings to keep the cases from being fully pursued? Was it just a coincidence that Gwendolyn told Winter of the strange happenings, or has he been manipulated by unknown forces to investigate the matter? Perhaps more importantly, can his burgeoning relationship withstand the fallout when Winter starts poking around in areas where his interest is not welcomed? After That the Dark is another 5 ⭐️ tale from author Andrew Klavan, dark and hypnotic, with equal parts introspection and action. Winter is a fascinating enigma whose journey towards self acceptance is chronicled with wit and compassion, and the mystery at the center of the book is sure to keep even seasoned thriller fans guessing till the end. Winter is fighting his personal demons of guilt and self-loathing even as he must fight some truly nasty antagonists in the outside world. The novel can be read as a standalone, but those who have read the earlier installments will have more context about who Winter was, who he is trying to be, and what landed him on Margaret's couch in the first place. Fans of the series are sure to enjoy this latest in the series, as will readers of Harlan Coben, Dean Koontz and Gregg Hurwitz. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for allowing me access to this clever and morally complex tale in exchange for my honest review.. I eagerly await what happens next!
November 9, 2025
Andrew Klavan has long been a superior writer of crime fiction and psychological thrillers, with some of his books being turned into feature films. Recently, his terrific series starring former spy turned college English professor Cameron Winter has given us stellar stories told in classic hard-boiled style. AFTER THAT, THE DARK is no exception.
This fifth and latest entry also skims the surface of both science fiction and horror, with elements of medical technology conspiracies along with some potential supernatural plotlines driving this tense story forward. Klavan is known for his strong faith, and I enjoyed seeing the novel open with a biblical quote from Matthew, as well as some of the characters discussing their faith in Jesus Christ.
In the prologue, we witness a family in crisis. Tilda Bach is pregnant with her first child, yet she is suspicious and fearful of her husband, Martin, who recently has shown an unnatural dark side almost as if he were possessed by something evil that was turning him against her. This plays perfectly into the narrative to come as Winter becomes involved in a pair of cases where the individuals at the center of two crimes are described as being possessed by the devil. These incidents also end up tying into a storyline involving Winter’s longtime handler in his spy days, The Recruiter, who may be in danger.
In a series of flashbacks that Winter shares with his therapist, he was on assignment for The Recruiter and targeted a wealthy villain, Thaddeus Blatt. Blatt had an evil tattooed henchman who made it a point to end Winter’s life in violent fashion. On a positive note, Winter finally may have found true love in the form of Gwendolyn Lord, for whom he would do anything. She tells him about Owen McKay, a computer repairman who stabbed his wife and child to death and later killed himself in prison. Winter takes a personal interest in the case and temporarily leaves his teaching job to investigate.
Winter’s investigation yields some interesting evidence. Anyone who knew McKay had nothing but wonderful things to say about him and his family. We learn from the initial unpublished autopsy that McKay may not have been a victim of possession but rather was operated like a puppet due to a wire that was found implanted in his brain. The fact that he killed himself with a homemade gun, filled with sharpened wooden nails, is highly suspicious. The autopsy report is redacted and released with false findings that Winter becomes obsessed with exposing. Meanwhile, a man in Connecticut has been accused of killing a young girl and fleeing the scene of the crime. We later learn that he may have had a brain implant as well.
While all of this is going on, the tattooed assassin returns and attempts to kill Winter. He reconnects with The Recruiter, who is retired and in hiding, and realizes that the past has caught up with the present, endangering him and everyone in his life. Winter is fine operating under this pressure, but once Gwendolyn is threatened, the gloves completely come off as he channels his former self to go on the attack to take down his enemies before they can hurt him or his circle of special people.
AFTER THAT, THE DARK is certainly the darkest and most suspenseful entry in this excellent series. Andrew Klavan has created a unique character that readers will root for and follow anywhere.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This fifth and latest entry also skims the surface of both science fiction and horror, with elements of medical technology conspiracies along with some potential supernatural plotlines driving this tense story forward. Klavan is known for his strong faith, and I enjoyed seeing the novel open with a biblical quote from Matthew, as well as some of the characters discussing their faith in Jesus Christ.
In the prologue, we witness a family in crisis. Tilda Bach is pregnant with her first child, yet she is suspicious and fearful of her husband, Martin, who recently has shown an unnatural dark side almost as if he were possessed by something evil that was turning him against her. This plays perfectly into the narrative to come as Winter becomes involved in a pair of cases where the individuals at the center of two crimes are described as being possessed by the devil. These incidents also end up tying into a storyline involving Winter’s longtime handler in his spy days, The Recruiter, who may be in danger.
In a series of flashbacks that Winter shares with his therapist, he was on assignment for The Recruiter and targeted a wealthy villain, Thaddeus Blatt. Blatt had an evil tattooed henchman who made it a point to end Winter’s life in violent fashion. On a positive note, Winter finally may have found true love in the form of Gwendolyn Lord, for whom he would do anything. She tells him about Owen McKay, a computer repairman who stabbed his wife and child to death and later killed himself in prison. Winter takes a personal interest in the case and temporarily leaves his teaching job to investigate.
Winter’s investigation yields some interesting evidence. Anyone who knew McKay had nothing but wonderful things to say about him and his family. We learn from the initial unpublished autopsy that McKay may not have been a victim of possession but rather was operated like a puppet due to a wire that was found implanted in his brain. The fact that he killed himself with a homemade gun, filled with sharpened wooden nails, is highly suspicious. The autopsy report is redacted and released with false findings that Winter becomes obsessed with exposing. Meanwhile, a man in Connecticut has been accused of killing a young girl and fleeing the scene of the crime. We later learn that he may have had a brain implant as well.
While all of this is going on, the tattooed assassin returns and attempts to kill Winter. He reconnects with The Recruiter, who is retired and in hiding, and realizes that the past has caught up with the present, endangering him and everyone in his life. Winter is fine operating under this pressure, but once Gwendolyn is threatened, the gloves completely come off as he channels his former self to go on the attack to take down his enemies before they can hurt him or his circle of special people.
AFTER THAT, THE DARK is certainly the darkest and most suspenseful entry in this excellent series. Andrew Klavan has created a unique character that readers will root for and follow anywhere.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
October 12, 2025
After That, the Dark by Andrew Klavan is an excellent, very highly recommended investigative mystery and a love story. This is the fifth novel in the series featuring Cameron Winter, the ex-spy turned English professor who has a “strange habit of mind.” Those following the series will be richly rewarded with this exceptional addition to it, however, it can also be enjoyed as a standalone novel - although you'll then want to go back and read the whole series.
Cameron Winter takes a risk asking out Gwendolyn Lord, while also continuing to share trauma from his violent past with therapist Margaret Whitaker. The two immediately connect and after Winter shares some of his background with her, Gwendolyn tells him a story she’s just heard from her friend forensic psychologist Livy Swain. It is a true locked room mystery. Apparently Owen McKay, arrested six months ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for killing his wife and son was shot to death with a nail gun inside his closely watched padded, unfurnished prison cell. McKay was crying, “It’s still there! Still there!,” when arrested.
Winter has what he calls "a strange habit of mind." He is able to look at a situation from all angles, deduce how the complicated clues fit together, and reach a clear understanding of what actually happened. He decides to look into McKay's case which leads him to discover officials being intimidated by a killer Winter knows as Tat Man, another similar case in another state, and into a tangled connection of the present with his past.
The novel is extremely well-written, fast paced, and well plotted. Clues are logically followed and Winter uses his abilities and connections to discover information and leads others might miss. He faces several intense, violent, aggressive situations, including encounters with Tat Man, a sleazy lawyer, and a corrupt billionaire. Along the way he has some humorous encounters with his nemesis, university diversity officer Lori Lesser, and meetings with undercover operator, Stan-Stan Stankowski. The Recruiter also makes an appearance.
This is a marvelous continuation of Cameron Winter's story arch. Winter is a poet and a cerebral man who just happens to also have the skills of a trained assassin. Following his new burgeoning relationship with Gwendolyn was something new, but welcome for the continuing series. At this point Winter is a complex, fully realized character and his strengths and weaknesses are well known. The Cameron Winter series consists of When Christmas Comes, A Strange Habit of Mind, The House of Love and Death, A Woman Underground, and After That, the Dark.
After That, the Dark is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys investigative mysteries and for those already following the series. Thanks to Penzler Publishing/Mysterious Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/1...
Cameron Winter takes a risk asking out Gwendolyn Lord, while also continuing to share trauma from his violent past with therapist Margaret Whitaker. The two immediately connect and after Winter shares some of his background with her, Gwendolyn tells him a story she’s just heard from her friend forensic psychologist Livy Swain. It is a true locked room mystery. Apparently Owen McKay, arrested six months ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for killing his wife and son was shot to death with a nail gun inside his closely watched padded, unfurnished prison cell. McKay was crying, “It’s still there! Still there!,” when arrested.
Winter has what he calls "a strange habit of mind." He is able to look at a situation from all angles, deduce how the complicated clues fit together, and reach a clear understanding of what actually happened. He decides to look into McKay's case which leads him to discover officials being intimidated by a killer Winter knows as Tat Man, another similar case in another state, and into a tangled connection of the present with his past.
The novel is extremely well-written, fast paced, and well plotted. Clues are logically followed and Winter uses his abilities and connections to discover information and leads others might miss. He faces several intense, violent, aggressive situations, including encounters with Tat Man, a sleazy lawyer, and a corrupt billionaire. Along the way he has some humorous encounters with his nemesis, university diversity officer Lori Lesser, and meetings with undercover operator, Stan-Stan Stankowski. The Recruiter also makes an appearance.
This is a marvelous continuation of Cameron Winter's story arch. Winter is a poet and a cerebral man who just happens to also have the skills of a trained assassin. Following his new burgeoning relationship with Gwendolyn was something new, but welcome for the continuing series. At this point Winter is a complex, fully realized character and his strengths and weaknesses are well known. The Cameron Winter series consists of When Christmas Comes, A Strange Habit of Mind, The House of Love and Death, A Woman Underground, and After That, the Dark.
After That, the Dark is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys investigative mysteries and for those already following the series. Thanks to Penzler Publishing/Mysterious Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/1...
December 21, 2025
Cameron Winter is an English professor who can recite passages of beautiful poetry from memory. He is also a highly-trained assassin who for years was under the spell of a shadowy and eccentric figure in the employ of United States government, known only as the Recruiter. Cam was once a member of the Division, a covert network of operatives who meted out punishment to people who threatened America's security. For years, Winter did the Recruiter's bidding, but after shedding so much blood, Cam sank into a deep depression. He is seeing a therapist, Margaret Whitaker, to whom he confides some of his most disturbing secrets. During their sessions, Margaret encourages Cam to move forward with his life, and urges him to embark on a romantic relationship with an attractive and compassionate woman named Gwendolyn Lord.
Winter is on summer break from his teaching duties when he gets wind of a strange case. Owen McKay, a man who had previously appeared to be a model citizen, suddenly murdered his wife and child. Cam looks into the matter, and soon fears that people in positions of power are participating in an extensive cover-up. After further digging, Cam learns that McKay, and others like him, did not become monsters by happenstance.
In "After that, the Dark," Andrew Klavan entertains us with lively dialogue, dark humor, and a smooth and compelling prose style that draws us in and keeps us engaged. Cam repeatedly squares off against a particularly brutal tattooed villain who takes pleasure in torturing others before taking their lives. In a lighter vein, the scenes between our hero and his therapist and between him and Gwendolyn are emotional, heartwarming, and evocative. Among the book's flaws is its excessive gore and a far-fetched plot that is more of a fantasy than a realistic narrative. Cam's ability to survive against tremendous odds strains credulity. It also unlikely that Winter would discuss his former activities in the Division with the women in his life. Still, many readers will empathize with Cam, a witty, intelligent, and complex character who is desperately seeking redemption.
Winter is on summer break from his teaching duties when he gets wind of a strange case. Owen McKay, a man who had previously appeared to be a model citizen, suddenly murdered his wife and child. Cam looks into the matter, and soon fears that people in positions of power are participating in an extensive cover-up. After further digging, Cam learns that McKay, and others like him, did not become monsters by happenstance.
In "After that, the Dark," Andrew Klavan entertains us with lively dialogue, dark humor, and a smooth and compelling prose style that draws us in and keeps us engaged. Cam repeatedly squares off against a particularly brutal tattooed villain who takes pleasure in torturing others before taking their lives. In a lighter vein, the scenes between our hero and his therapist and between him and Gwendolyn are emotional, heartwarming, and evocative. Among the book's flaws is its excessive gore and a far-fetched plot that is more of a fantasy than a realistic narrative. Cam's ability to survive against tremendous odds strains credulity. It also unlikely that Winter would discuss his former activities in the Division with the women in his life. Still, many readers will empathize with Cam, a witty, intelligent, and complex character who is desperately seeking redemption.
August 8, 2025
This is the fifth book in Klavan’s excellent series of the man with a “strange habit of mind.”
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, many locations across the country
Characters: Cameron Winter, a former assassin and current poetry professor who can not avoid being dragged into new, bizarre adventures, his boss and mentor, the Recruiter, Gwendolyn Lord, his new love, a terrific arch enemy named the Tattoo Man, and the primary nemesis, Thaddeus Blatt, an evil technical billionaire genius reminiscent of Elon Musk.
Overview: Winter finds an uncanny similarity of incidents where men have suddenly become unhinged and perpetrate heinous murders. He tracks down the common background point and realizes there is more to come. While being somewhat grounded with his new love and his expertise in poetry, he again faces evil forces that are set to change the world. His intimate dialogues with Gwendolyn, directly in counterpoint to chase and escape scenes, make this a fine book.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: This book in the series reminded me of the terrific, witty, sarcastic asides of early Trevanian stories. Winter always has appropriate snarky thoughts about everyone, even face-to-face with his arch rivals. This man with the “strange habit of mind” has a strange habit of being challenged by billionaire geniuses and eventually defeating them. Nicely relevant.
Thanx to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, many locations across the country
Characters: Cameron Winter, a former assassin and current poetry professor who can not avoid being dragged into new, bizarre adventures, his boss and mentor, the Recruiter, Gwendolyn Lord, his new love, a terrific arch enemy named the Tattoo Man, and the primary nemesis, Thaddeus Blatt, an evil technical billionaire genius reminiscent of Elon Musk.
Overview: Winter finds an uncanny similarity of incidents where men have suddenly become unhinged and perpetrate heinous murders. He tracks down the common background point and realizes there is more to come. While being somewhat grounded with his new love and his expertise in poetry, he again faces evil forces that are set to change the world. His intimate dialogues with Gwendolyn, directly in counterpoint to chase and escape scenes, make this a fine book.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: This book in the series reminded me of the terrific, witty, sarcastic asides of early Trevanian stories. Winter always has appropriate snarky thoughts about everyone, even face-to-face with his arch rivals. This man with the “strange habit of mind” has a strange habit of being challenged by billionaire geniuses and eventually defeating them. Nicely relevant.
Thanx to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
November 24, 2025
Writing from Tulsa, the story hooked me immediately. Klavan captures the unsettling possibility of an otherwise solid, grounded citizen suddenly coming unmoored, and it rings true in a way that feels uncomfortably close to home. Winter steps into the chaos not as a superhero but as a calm, steady voice of reason, guiding others through the labyrinth of their own wounded psyches while carrying the weight of his own.
Klavan raises the stakes on two fronts. First, the romantic thread between Winter and Gwendolyn Lord adds emotional depth and surprising tenderness. Their moments together, sometimes humorous, sometimes vulnerable open Winter up in ways that feel earned rather than sentimental. Klavan handles this with a light, confident touch that gives the series new dimension.
Second, the antagonists in this entry are some of the most chilling he’s written. Without spoiling anything, one villain in particular stands out as the most unsettling in the entire series, not just dangerous, but frighteningly plausible. The returning cast provides warmth and familiarity, almost like catching up with old friends who’ve been changed by what they’ve endured.
After That, the Dark proves yet again that the Cameron Winter novels aren’t just thrillers, they’re thoughtful reflections on morality, identity, and the world we live in. This installment delivers a dynamic, satisfying conclusion while leaving plenty of room for future stories.
Strongly recommended.
— Nicholas Teeguarden
Klavan raises the stakes on two fronts. First, the romantic thread between Winter and Gwendolyn Lord adds emotional depth and surprising tenderness. Their moments together, sometimes humorous, sometimes vulnerable open Winter up in ways that feel earned rather than sentimental. Klavan handles this with a light, confident touch that gives the series new dimension.
Second, the antagonists in this entry are some of the most chilling he’s written. Without spoiling anything, one villain in particular stands out as the most unsettling in the entire series, not just dangerous, but frighteningly plausible. The returning cast provides warmth and familiarity, almost like catching up with old friends who’ve been changed by what they’ve endured.
After That, the Dark proves yet again that the Cameron Winter novels aren’t just thrillers, they’re thoughtful reflections on morality, identity, and the world we live in. This installment delivers a dynamic, satisfying conclusion while leaving plenty of room for future stories.
Strongly recommended.
— Nicholas Teeguarden
July 16, 2025
In this fifth book of the Cameron Winter series, Andrew Klavan just seems to get better and better with his storytelling. Amidst a steady background of suspense, mystery, love, romance, and a hint of the supernatural, Winter looks into the crimes to two upstanding citizens who abruptly and unexpectedly went on murderous rampages. Along the way, the assassin-turned-English professor encounters an array of fascinating characters, including the terrifying Tat Man, an icy attorney, and a power-hungry billionaire. Regardless of the violence or terror that often surrounds Winter, Klavan always finds a way to incorporate humor…which sometimes comes in the form of the annoying “diversity officer” Lori Lesser or the undercover operator, Stan-Stan Stankowski. For that matter, with more than a passing reference to religion, it was fun to watch Winter, the atheist, deal with the fanatically religious Recruiter, as well as maneuvering around the spiritual devotion of his beloved Gwendolyn Lord. As I began to worry about the safety of Winter and those close to him, I realized that I was fully 100% invested in this novel. Fortunately, “After That” demonstrated once again that Klavan is a master at writing the perfect and most satisfying of endings to his novels.
As with the others in the series, this book was a pure delight to read. My thanks to Net Galley and Penzler Publishers for an eARC in exchange for honest feedback.
As with the others in the series, this book was a pure delight to read. My thanks to Net Galley and Penzler Publishers for an eARC in exchange for honest feedback.
December 2, 2025
Andrew Klavan is the most creative writer of fast-paced thrillers I've ever read. The fifth installment of his Cameron Winter series is a lot of fun—and the intricate plot, recurring characters, and Winter himself make the book unputdownable.
What is absolutely ingenious is how Klavan manages to turn a true crime story with a locked-room mystery twist told in a chatty way over a dinner date into an unfolding web of horror, sci-fi, and intrigue reaching to the highest levels of government. And yet, through it all, the plot maintains credibility, because Winter's meticulous ability to grasp all intricacies and implications of diabolical schemes—his "strange habit of mind"—never allow the reader to doubt that we're in the realm of the possible.
The Recruiter, of course, is back. Stan Stankowski as well. IFYKYK. And IFYK, then you will be delighted.
My only quibble with this book is the character of Gwendolyn Lord. She is kind of a cipher—especially when placed against the cast of strong, memorable characters that surround Winter. Her main purpose seems to be to wear lovely dresses and press soft, yielding skin up against Cameron in various ways. OK. Even her Christian beliefs seem shallow and silly. Dunno. Shoulda made her a Catholic. 😁
Overall, I am enjoying this series exceedingly. Hope Fall 2026 will find me with #6 in hand!
What is absolutely ingenious is how Klavan manages to turn a true crime story with a locked-room mystery twist told in a chatty way over a dinner date into an unfolding web of horror, sci-fi, and intrigue reaching to the highest levels of government. And yet, through it all, the plot maintains credibility, because Winter's meticulous ability to grasp all intricacies and implications of diabolical schemes—his "strange habit of mind"—never allow the reader to doubt that we're in the realm of the possible.
The Recruiter, of course, is back. Stan Stankowski as well. IFYKYK. And IFYK, then you will be delighted.
My only quibble with this book is the character of Gwendolyn Lord. She is kind of a cipher—especially when placed against the cast of strong, memorable characters that surround Winter. Her main purpose seems to be to wear lovely dresses and press soft, yielding skin up against Cameron in various ways. OK. Even her Christian beliefs seem shallow and silly. Dunno. Shoulda made her a Catholic. 😁
Overall, I am enjoying this series exceedingly. Hope Fall 2026 will find me with #6 in hand!
July 16, 2025
I only recently discovered Andrew Klavan, but he is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I adore this series. Cameron Winter is such a great complex character. I love that he is finally figuring out who he is and accepting it. Gwendolyn is not how I expected her to be and she's not what I would picture as a good fit for Cameron, but I'm glad he's happy and moving on from Charlotte. As always, the humor had me laughing out loud. Stan-Stan continues to be ridiculous and fabulous. The plot was incredibly intriguing and really makes you think. What if a device like that actually existed? I don't want to spoil anything, so that's all I'm going to say about that. The climax was excellent and had my heart racing. I was so worried! And that ending? Chills. Loved it. My only minor disappointment was that the story Cameron told his therapist about his past wasn't as exciting as usual. However, it was relevant to the plot and was clearly a pivotal moment in his life. That's okay though because the main story was more than exciting enough to make up for it. Overall, I thought After That, the Dark was a wonderful installment in the series, and I already can't wait for the next one to come out! Highly recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC.
October 20, 2025
So this one was a big miss for me — and honestly, most of that came down to the audio narration. I just couldn’t connect to the story because the narrator, Adam Barr, didn’t work for me. His voice didn’t seem to fit the characters, and the delivery lacked any real inflection. It was slow and monotonous to the point that it started to feel like he was droning on.
The audio production itself didn’t help either. It had a slightly “tinny” sound, like it was recorded in a basement rather than a proper studio. It ended up distracting me the entire time, and by the halfway mark, I was just trying to power through. I even sped it up to 2x speed just to get it done.
Sometimes a strong story can rise above weak narration — but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here. Not every book is for every person, so while my experience wasn’t great, I still landed on a 3⭐️ rating to stay fair and a bit more neutral.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from High bridge audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
The audio production itself didn’t help either. It had a slightly “tinny” sound, like it was recorded in a basement rather than a proper studio. It ended up distracting me the entire time, and by the halfway mark, I was just trying to power through. I even sped it up to 2x speed just to get it done.
Sometimes a strong story can rise above weak narration — but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here. Not every book is for every person, so while my experience wasn’t great, I still landed on a 3⭐️ rating to stay fair and a bit more neutral.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from High bridge audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
October 13, 2025
“After That, The Dark” is the 5th installment in the Cameron Winter series. This can be read/listened to as a standalone, but after listening to this audiobook, my introduction to the series, it might benefit reading the previous novels in the series. I wasn’t lost, but there were a few moments of feeling like I was joining something in progress.
As far as the audiobook is concerned, the combination of the style of writing and the narrator made it feel like you were listening to a contemporary Philip Marlowe novel. That isn’t a criticism, but just an observation. Adam Barr, the narrator, is excellent. His inflection and pacing add so much to this audiobook.
This novel is fantastic. Once the mystery is presented, you will be hanging on every word read/spoken. Mr. Klavan is a top-notch author and has won me over. I now have 4 previous novels to catch up on.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
As far as the audiobook is concerned, the combination of the style of writing and the narrator made it feel like you were listening to a contemporary Philip Marlowe novel. That isn’t a criticism, but just an observation. Adam Barr, the narrator, is excellent. His inflection and pacing add so much to this audiobook.
This novel is fantastic. Once the mystery is presented, you will be hanging on every word read/spoken. Mr. Klavan is a top-notch author and has won me over. I now have 4 previous novels to catch up on.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
November 24, 2025
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT begin this book if you have a busy schedule with lots of urgent tasks on your daily “to do” list. Because once you start reading “After That, The Dark” you will get nothing else in your life done until you complete the final paragraph of this page turner. Award winning writer Andrew Klavan is back with his 5th installment of his Cameron Winter series. This thriller involves spiritual demons, trans humanism, evil corporate billionaires (of course), corrupt law enforcement, and dark government forces. Our favorite ex-government-hitman-turned-English-professor faces off with a rogue assassin with skills that rival his own lethal training. Armed with simply a poem in his heart and a cross necklace in his pocket, Professor Winter must find away to not only protect innocent victims from potential serial killers, but also prevent his newly found true love from becoming collateral damage due to his investigation.
December 28, 2025
Top notch thriller
I have become an avid Andrew Klavan reader. Since listening to him on his podcasts, weekly, I have discovered, much to my delight, he years of writing that he did of which I was previously unaware.
I had started with the Cameron Winter series when it first came out: When Christmas Comes.
It was entertaining, but I didn't find it exceptional. Now, I think I would like to go back and reread it.
The series has definitely evolved and deepened, as we understand more about Winter's past and understand his world through his therapy sessions.
Andrew has said that he believes this latest book would be a stand - alone: that it could be enjoyed without having read the previous books in the series.
I have read all of them so my opinion is definitely biased, but I think the previous books add depth and understanding to his character.
If you didn't read them, go back and read them. Now you'll be glad you did.
I have become an avid Andrew Klavan reader. Since listening to him on his podcasts, weekly, I have discovered, much to my delight, he years of writing that he did of which I was previously unaware.
I had started with the Cameron Winter series when it first came out: When Christmas Comes.
It was entertaining, but I didn't find it exceptional. Now, I think I would like to go back and reread it.
The series has definitely evolved and deepened, as we understand more about Winter's past and understand his world through his therapy sessions.
Andrew has said that he believes this latest book would be a stand - alone: that it could be enjoyed without having read the previous books in the series.
I have read all of them so my opinion is definitely biased, but I think the previous books add depth and understanding to his character.
If you didn't read them, go back and read them. Now you'll be glad you did.
October 31, 2025
In the book After That, the Dark, author Andrew Klavan continues his Cameron Winter series, the retired spy-assassin turned college English professor. Winter is known for his sixth sense about crimes and his ability to connect facts in his head like no one else. And Winter is falling in love. When he finally gets the courage to contact the attractive therapist Gwendolyn Lord, she tells him about a murder that sends him looking for answers in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And suddenly he is face to face with a killer from his assassin days. While Winter wants to leave his past behind, he loves Gwendolyn and will do anything to protect her, including killing. This is another great addition to this thought-provoking series. I would highly recommend this book and the series. I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2025
I just finished listening to all of the Cameron Winter novels in a row.
They are great thrillers with a hearty psychological twist. Cam is a complex hero, a 21st century former assassin with an 18th century poetic heart. I love the contrast between his violent past and his current status as an English professor. But maybe the modern college campus is as cut-throat and dangerous as his experience in The Division.
The action scenes are great fun. I enjoy the conversations with Margaret just as much, as she forces him to confront his guilt and open his heart. I think all of us know someone like Lori, bless our hearts, as she works to DEI us into submission and oblivion.
Long may his adventures continue! Thank you, Mr. Klavan, for a roaring good time.
They are great thrillers with a hearty psychological twist. Cam is a complex hero, a 21st century former assassin with an 18th century poetic heart. I love the contrast between his violent past and his current status as an English professor. But maybe the modern college campus is as cut-throat and dangerous as his experience in The Division.
The action scenes are great fun. I enjoy the conversations with Margaret just as much, as she forces him to confront his guilt and open his heart. I think all of us know someone like Lori, bless our hearts, as she works to DEI us into submission and oblivion.
Long may his adventures continue! Thank you, Mr. Klavan, for a roaring good time.
October 16, 2025
He’s an English professor and an assassin! I read this as a standalone and had no problem understanding the situation, except for why a therapist would tell him about a puzzling death. Now Cameron Winter feels compelled to investigate it whilst quoting poetry and wooing her.
My biggest nit was for the multiple times someone would arrive home to find an uninvited, unexpected someone else sitting in a chair, waiting in the dark. Multiple times! Otherwise this was a good thriller/mystery in a well-narrated audiobook.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HighbridgeAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #AfterThattheDark for review purposes.
Publication date: 28 October 2025.
My biggest nit was for the multiple times someone would arrive home to find an uninvited, unexpected someone else sitting in a chair, waiting in the dark. Multiple times! Otherwise this was a good thriller/mystery in a well-narrated audiobook.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HighbridgeAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #AfterThattheDark for review purposes.
Publication date: 28 October 2025.
October 17, 2025
After That, The Dark by Andrew Klavan was a really good listen. It had that perfect mix of mystery, suspense, and emotion that kept me hooked from the start. The story moved at a good pace and had plenty of action to keep things interesting. My only small critique is that the romance part felt a bit rushed at times — I would’ve loved to see that relationship developed a little more.
Adam Barr did an amazing job narrating. His performance really brought the story to life and made every scene feel real and intense. Definitely one of those narrators you could listen to all day.
Looking forward to reading more in this series!
Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.
Adam Barr did an amazing job narrating. His performance really brought the story to life and made every scene feel real and intense. Definitely one of those narrators you could listen to all day.
Looking forward to reading more in this series!
Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.
November 1, 2025
A page turner with very creative twists and turns which leaves one thinking- how long will it be before this technology exists-if it doesn’t already….
The hero, Cameron Winter, continues to mature along with a personality that stretches its own boundaries .
I highly recommend this book, even for those for whom the mystery genre is not a favorite. The plot moves quickly, but is never predictable. The bad guys emerge, go, and occasionally disappear. The ending is good enough to read twice, causing the reader to be glad of what is happening ( or has happened?).
The hero, Cameron Winter, continues to mature along with a personality that stretches its own boundaries .
I highly recommend this book, even for those for whom the mystery genre is not a favorite. The plot moves quickly, but is never predictable. The bad guys emerge, go, and occasionally disappear. The ending is good enough to read twice, causing the reader to be glad of what is happening ( or has happened?).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
I really enjoy Klavan's writing. While I don't love some of the content, I can appreciate what he is doing, how he is presenting the world as it is, with all its darkness included.
This story was engrossing. It has action, suspense, romance, and intrigue. All handled with the mastery of a man who has been crafting stories for decades. I was completely hooked.
While it is book 5, you can absolutely read this one first.
It is a good read for anyone who enjoys gritty, thrilling, suspense stories.
This story was engrossing. It has action, suspense, romance, and intrigue. All handled with the mastery of a man who has been crafting stories for decades. I was completely hooked.
While it is book 5, you can absolutely read this one first.
It is a good read for anyone who enjoys gritty, thrilling, suspense stories.
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