Nighttrap

Darkside #3

by Tom Becker

Mrs Elwood has been kidnapped. And Jonathan will do anything to get her back - even if this means breaking in to the home of one of Darkside's most sinister citizens. The plan's in place for a dangerous heist - but is this mission impossible from the start? This is another great adventure in the spine-tingling "Darkside" series.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult, Horror, Supernatural

250 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2008

About the author

Tom Becker grew up in a market town in the northwest of England, dreaming of becoming a writer. He won the 2007 Waterstones' Children's Book Prize with his first novel, Darkside, and has continued to blur the lines between history and fantasy in brooding adventure and horror stories such as The Traitors and While The Others Sleep. He has also published an adult novel, The Cold Tap, on Kindle under his real name, Tom Beckerlegge. Tom lives in London with his wife, baby son, and a horde of shadowy creatures that he keeps confined within the pages of his notebook. He can be found on Twitter at @Tbeckerlegge.

Reviews

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact this started with Jonathan being arrested and having to explain to the police how he got there in the prologue and then having him be broken out in chapter 21 therefore continuing the story was genius. I also really liked when the guy was killed at the auction and his killer was like ‘going once, going twice, gone!’ *stab*

Carnegie was once again great. “are you saying I smell?”
Carnegie snorted. “Everyone smells”

Raquella really needs to ditch Vendetta.

And Xavier made my skin crawl *shudders*.

BUT WE STILL KNOW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT TERESA. LIKE WHERE IS SHE AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

[Kimi Waite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting characters, not all predictable. Like it!

Not a high reading level, but kept my interest because it wasn’t predictable the whole way through like some books tend to be. I like the series because there are some storylines that I believe will develop in future books.

[K Artifex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best one of all the books. I can read it over and over again. The people that are helping with the infiltration are perfect.

[Anna Wallman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bättre än sista delen (jag jag råkade läsa i fel ordning).
Överraskningar!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an alright book

[Marion (www.welteninsel.rocks)]

Darum geht es:
Jonathan hat sich in Darkside ein paar mächtige Feinde geschaffen. Darum hält Carnegie es für sicherer, wenn er zurück nach Lightside geht. Jonathan ist davon alles andere als begeistert, fügt sich aber schließlich.

Zurück in London erscheint ihm alles eintönig und langweilig. Bis eines Tages Miss Ellwood, eine Freundin der Familie und so etwas wie Jonathans Ersatzmutter, entführt wird. Die Entführer sind niemand geringere als Vendetta und Marianne, die beide noch eine Rechnung mit Jonathan offen haben. Sie fordern von ihm den „Purpur-Stein“, einen sagenumwobenen Edelstein, der seinem Besitzer unvorstellbare Macht verleiht, zu stehlen. Doch dieser Stein wird von einem mehr als bösartigen Darksider mit strengsten Sicherheitsmaßnahmen unter Verschluss gehalten. Jonathan, Carnegie und Raquella sind mit dieser Aufgabe heillos überfordert. Sie brauchen Hilfe und zwar schnell, denn sie haben nur eine Woche Zeit, Miss Ellwood vor Vendetta zu retten. Deshalb kehren sie nach Darkside zurück, um die besten Diebe aller Zeiten zusammen zu trommeln. Die Gilde der Diebe!

Ich sage dazu:
Mit der Gilde der Diebe kommen ein paar weitere Charaktere ins Spiel, die mir größtenteils durchaus sympathisch waren. Aber auch ein alter Bekannter gehört dazu. Corelli, der im vorherigen Teil nicht gerade freundlich rüber kam, stellt sich nun doch noch als anständiger Kerl heraus. Mein Liebling war aber ganz eindeutig Verv, der durchgeknallte Fluchtwagenfahrer. Es hat Spaß gemacht, mitzuerleben, wie sich die Truppe nach und nach zusammen rauft.

Bis auf ein paar Schwächen und dem ein oder anderen Krabbeltier zu viel, hat mir dieser 3. Teil der Reihe bislang am besten gefallen.

Die Reihenfolge der einzelnen Bände:
Darkside
1. Die Schattenwelt
2. Der schwarze Phönix
3. Die Gilde der Diebe

© Marion Schauder

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third instalment of the Darkside series by Tom Becker see’s Jonathan Starling and a motley crew of cohorts embark on a new adventure; this time to save Jonathan’s long time carer, Mrs Elwood.

I originally started reading the Darkside books as it was the set text for a class that I work with in my day job (teaching assistant by day, bookblogger extraordinaire by night) and I quickly became immersed in the world of Darkside. The menacing people who live there, the olde world Victorian setting, the unruly society where the rules are that there are no rules is just fascinating and really entertaining.

In my opinion, the series keeps getting better and better. The crime capers become more elaborate with more and more secrets being revealed….equally more intrigue and mystery is built up with each story which is testament to Becker’s writing. Furthermore, I have to give kudos to Becker for his skill of writing a cliffhanger. Every chapter ends at a crucial and dramatic point which made me have to read on. Well played, Becker.

As much as the Darkside series is targeted to a younger audience it is the kind of book that will keep even the cleverest of adults guessing until the very end. This series is a must, go out and buy them all now.

Nighttrap (Darkside #3) by Tom Becker is available now.

[Newport Librarians · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book literally sucked me in. I was reading something else and picked it up to repair the cover; glancing at the "hook" on the back, I was hooked. Given that it is a Darkside novel, maybe there is some evil force pulling me in.

SPOILER ALERT!

Becker writes a wonderful story with lots of action, great movement and interesting twists and turns in almost every chapter. The ending however left a lot to be desired. It is almost like he got tired of writing so everyone just gave up and went home. They spent the entire novel risking death time and again and double crossing one another for this one jewel, then when it disappears, the all literally give up and go home - boom just like that. In one page, the book goes from riveting to "what???". How completely anti-climactic!

[Melissa Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Darkside series by Tom Becker. I would have to say that I didn't enjoy it as much as the first 2 but really liked it nonetheless. I didn't get really "into it" until the actual robbery was taking place. Yes, there's a robbery and Jonathan is actually helping out. Not only that but he has to work with an enemy that he doesn't trust. Is Jonathan actually becoming a true Darksider? No, he has to do the robbery in order to save Mrs. Elwood. Sound intriguing? It is! If you liked the first two books, you'll definitely like this one.

[Magda]

August, in a city gasping for breath. The heat had wrapped thick, sweaty fingers around London, and was squeezing mercilessly. Choked streets pleaded in vain for a breeze. Trapped inside stuffy offices and airless tube trains, Londoners sweltered and roasted. Those unable to escape the city made for parks and gardens, and the shade beneath tree branches and sun umbrellas, but the heat sapped life from everything. Down by the riverfront, the Thames slumped lifelessly against the Embankment.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nighttrap was excellent. I loved the fact that most of the story was set in 'Lightside' this time. Jonathan and Carnegie's characters get better with each book in the series and it gets more violent and exciting as well. I loved the twins as well, they are very amusing and cool characters.

[Elizabeth Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it even more :)

[Cody Boruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

[Linda]

See review to Darkside.