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Under His Gravity
You don’t find the truth here.
It finds you first.
Emma Vance believed power could be exposed.
She was wrong.
When her investigation into a brutal street murder leads her to Vito Mortello, she uncovers a world beneath law and politics — a system built on loyalty, violence, and silence.
A system that doesn’t destroy its enemies.
It absorbs them.
As Emma digs deeper, sources disappear.
Records collapse.
Doors close without explanation.
The more she learns, the less control she has over what happens next.
Because in the Mortello world, survival isn’t about what you know.
It’s about whether the system decides to keep you.
And once someone falls under the Mortello family’s gravity—
leaving is no longer a matter of choice.
The Dominion Files — Book One
A dark psychological crime thriller
It finds you first.
Emma Vance believed power could be exposed.
She was wrong.
When her investigation into a brutal street murder leads her to Vito Mortello, she uncovers a world beneath law and politics — a system built on loyalty, violence, and silence.
A system that doesn’t destroy its enemies.
It absorbs them.
As Emma digs deeper, sources disappear.
Records collapse.
Doors close without explanation.
The more she learns, the less control she has over what happens next.
Because in the Mortello world, survival isn’t about what you know.
It’s about whether the system decides to keep you.
And once someone falls under the Mortello family’s gravity—
leaving is no longer a matter of choice.
The Dominion Files — Book One
A dark psychological crime thriller
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2026
About the author
Quinn Calder
2 booksQuinn Calder is the author of psychological crime fiction exploring power, proximity, and the quiet mechanics of control.
Under His Gravity is the first book in The Dominion Files, a crime thriller series where journalism, organised crime, and institutional systems intersect.
Calder writes under a pen name.
Under His Gravity is the first book in The Dominion Files, a crime thriller series where journalism, organised crime, and institutional systems intersect.
Calder writes under a pen name.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 3, 2026
Emma is a journalist who decides to look into a case that is far too dangerous for her to be digging into. Thrown into this world was not what she wanted, but now she has to play by Vito's rules to survive. All Vito wants is control of his world and the people in it, but people threaten to take what isn't theirs, and Emma is his. This is an amazing mafia thriller. I was hooked on this book and finished it within a few hours. The action never stopped, and I instantly fell in love with Emma and Vito and the possessive way they need each other.
April 11, 2026
When I started this, I didn't know what to expect, and it still surprised me.
Firstly, it opens with a dead body. Anyone who knows me knows I love a book that launches straight into the murder. The concept itself is also really strong. Two opposing mafia-style syndicates fighting for power, and one journalist caught in the middle. The situation is far bigger than she realises and she's already in too deep before she even understands what's going on. I really liked the idea that she was a pawn in somebody else's game, perfectly following a script without knowing the endgame.
I'm pretty sure I've never read a psychological thriller quite like this one! It leans more into the perspective of the people inside the criminal world rather than looking in from the outside, which made it feel very different to a lot of books I’ve read before. I also appreciated that, despite the themes around control, this didn’t go down a Fifty Shades route (which I was bracing myself for 😂). There are elements of a relationship, but “romance” definitely feels like the wrong word because there's bugger all romantic about it! It's much darker and more uncomfortable, and I'd describe it as obsession or dependency more than romance.
That said, I found myself wanting more. It kind of felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of the plot and missed a few chapters. While I knew how significant certain characters were, I didn’t always fully understand why. I think a bit more depth, detail and insight into the characters' backgrounds - Emma in particular - would have really elevated it. However, I also have a tendency to forget things immediately after reading them so this could just be a me-problem.
The writing style is distinct and punchy. At times it really enhances the tension and creates a controlled, clinical tone mirroring the control through the book. However, certain phrases felt overused and pulled me out of the moment a little. Overall, it was an interesting take on the genre, and one I’m glad to have read. I just wished it had been a little longer and more fleshed out!
Firstly, it opens with a dead body. Anyone who knows me knows I love a book that launches straight into the murder. The concept itself is also really strong. Two opposing mafia-style syndicates fighting for power, and one journalist caught in the middle. The situation is far bigger than she realises and she's already in too deep before she even understands what's going on. I really liked the idea that she was a pawn in somebody else's game, perfectly following a script without knowing the endgame.
I'm pretty sure I've never read a psychological thriller quite like this one! It leans more into the perspective of the people inside the criminal world rather than looking in from the outside, which made it feel very different to a lot of books I’ve read before. I also appreciated that, despite the themes around control, this didn’t go down a Fifty Shades route (which I was bracing myself for 😂). There are elements of a relationship, but “romance” definitely feels like the wrong word because there's bugger all romantic about it! It's much darker and more uncomfortable, and I'd describe it as obsession or dependency more than romance.
That said, I found myself wanting more. It kind of felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of the plot and missed a few chapters. While I knew how significant certain characters were, I didn’t always fully understand why. I think a bit more depth, detail and insight into the characters' backgrounds - Emma in particular - would have really elevated it. However, I also have a tendency to forget things immediately after reading them so this could just be a me-problem.
The writing style is distinct and punchy. At times it really enhances the tension and creates a controlled, clinical tone mirroring the control through the book. However, certain phrases felt overused and pulled me out of the moment a little. Overall, it was an interesting take on the genre, and one I’m glad to have read. I just wished it had been a little longer and more fleshed out!
April 24, 2026
Under His Gravity is book 1 in The Dominion Files.
The way this story started off was absolutely gripping. I was hooked immediately!
This story is a psychological thriller that is twisty. Emma starts off as a journalist just wanting to find and expose the truth. But through doing this, she finds herself entangled in a battle for power. The plot in this one is really different from what I'm used to in the sense that it's pretty unique and doesn't follow the same typical plots as most stories like this do. You get to follow Emma into the criminal world, where leaving isn't an option.
I thought this story was really well written and captivating. The plot is unique. The theme is dark and predatory. I enjoyed every second of this.
The way this story started off was absolutely gripping. I was hooked immediately!
This story is a psychological thriller that is twisty. Emma starts off as a journalist just wanting to find and expose the truth. But through doing this, she finds herself entangled in a battle for power. The plot in this one is really different from what I'm used to in the sense that it's pretty unique and doesn't follow the same typical plots as most stories like this do. You get to follow Emma into the criminal world, where leaving isn't an option.
I thought this story was really well written and captivating. The plot is unique. The theme is dark and predatory. I enjoyed every second of this.
March 11, 2026
Under His Gravity introduces a dark and intriguing world where crime, power, and control quietly collide. The premise of journalism intersecting with organized crime gives the story a tense, psychological edge.
It feels like the start of a layered thriller series, especially with its focus on manipulation, proximity, and the hidden systems behind power. Fans of slow-burn, psychologically driven crime fiction will likely find this one compelling.
It feels like the start of a layered thriller series, especially with its focus on manipulation, proximity, and the hidden systems behind power. Fans of slow-burn, psychologically driven crime fiction will likely find this one compelling.
May 22, 2026
I received an arc copy of this from the author. This was a hard read for me. I almost stopped reading it a few times because the book felt rushed at every page. I couldnt understand what was going on at all. I understand it was about a journalist that gets kidnapped because she witnessed a murder she shouldn't have but what is happening. Not sure if I will read book 2 or not
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews