Dark Hours

by Ryan David Jahn

Private Investigator Damien Lamb: a man hardened by life and seeking justice against those who have wronged society. When the vulnerable Abigail walks into his office asking Lamb to retrieve her daughter from the confines of infamous cult, the Children of God, Lamb can't help but fall for her story. And so begins a breath-taking and dangerous journey as Lamb attempts to rescue Abigail's daughter, Lily, and bring down the charming yet heinous leader of the cult, Rhett Mosley. But Abigail's motivations might not be as clear as they first seem and Lamb finds himself in more danger than he could ever have imagined . . .

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2015

About the author

Ryan David Jahn grew up in Arizona, California, and Texas. He finished school at sixteen, worked several odd jobs, from record store clerk to janitor, and spent time in the army before moving to Los Angeles, where he muddled about in television and film for several years.

He published his first novel, Acts of Violence, which went on to win the Crime Writers' Association John Creasey Dagger, in 2009, and has since published four others: Low Life (2010); The Dispatcher (2011), which was long-listed for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger; The Last Tomorrow (2012); and The Gentle Assassin (2014). Translation rights to his works have been sold in twelve languages.

He now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife Jessica Alt Jahn and two daughters, Francine and Matilda.

Reviews

[David Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan David Jahn brings us Dark Hours a fast-paced action-packed thriller. The attractive Abigail walks into struggling private investigator Damien Lamb’s office and spins him a sob story. The pay-off is potentially huge and he needs the money despite the dangers. She’s tugged at his heart strings but does he trust her? When he agrees to take the job she thinks she has him where she wants him. Well it could all end in tears for someone. This is a good thriller that moves along at breath-taking speed and leaves you a little shell-shocked.

Lamb has agreed to ‘rescue’ Abigail’s daughter Lily from the infamous Children of God cult. The cult leader Rhett Mosley has several hundred followers and can be pretty ruthless when it comes to protecting what’s his. Lamb knows this job could seriously damage his health and so it proves. Jahn provides plenty of tense situations for our hero Lamb and some rather nice graphic violent scenes. Young Lily supplies a bit of innocence and naivety bringing out the protecting father figure in Lamb. It all adds interest and gives a nice mix of emotions to keeping the reader engrossed and onside.

I found this an easy and enjoyable read that I raced through in a day. Plenty to hold your interest and keep you turning the pages and Jhan certainly knows how to entertain. His writing style is sharp and to the point which especially in conversational pieces encourages the reader to read quickly and emphasis’s the impression of pace. Recommended if this is your type of thriller and it appeals to you.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Hours – A Fast Paced Thriller

Dark Hours by Ryan David Jahn is a fast paced thriller where the best of the action takes place at night as the title suggests. What the title does not tell you is how gripping and fast paced this thriller really is, it is a roller coaster of a ride, with Private Investigator Damien Lamb seems to have more lives than your average cat. Definitely the all conquering American hero type here who is cynical at the world around him, a bit defective but lovable all the same.

Damien Lewis has a reputation as a man that will get the job done as a Private Investigator no job to big or too small and he laughs in the face of danger! But one thing is he needs to work to pay the bills and when Abigail a beautiful woman with expensive tastes walks in to his office and asks him to rescue her daughter from her husband he cannot resist. Even when he finds out that her husband is the leader of an infamous Children of God Cult who is not afraid to kill.

Even though he recognises that he has been spun a tale in part by Abigail he makes a promise to return her daughter to her. What he does not have is a plan but he does know that he will be up against a charming yet dangerous opponent in Rhett Mosley. He realises that he will somehow have to get inside the Children of God compound, rescue Abigail’s daughter Lily and somehow get out alive.

Jahn throws in to the mix a lot of violence, some abuse and plenty of brain washing in to the thriller mix. Through an excellent use of language the graphic violence is conveyed without it being gratuitous , but makes it clear Mosley will go to any length to what he perceives as his even dancing with the devil if need be.

The characters are brilliantly defined, Lamb as the hardened Investigator, Abigail a vulnerable woman who has had a tough life and Lily the touch of innocence that brings out the best in Lamb. Mosley is clearly charismatic to his followers, twisted hard and prone to violent outbursts who is controlling of his daughter and his followers. The mix of characters gives the story a depth and roundness to the story, where you can pick up and sympathise with naivety and innocence in the juxtaposition of all the violence around.

Jahn has certainly written a highly enjoyable fast paced thriller that drives you on and it is easy to see why he is building a reputation as a writer not to be missed. The writing is clear and concise, the conversations that are had make you want to read at pace and the more you read the more you want to read the book in one sitting. This thriller is packed with violence, innocence, fast pace and energy a must read for thriller lovers.

[Alyssa Winder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was very bloody and gory. bit too much sexual interactions and rape for my liking. Loved the plot of a PI saving a girl from a cult led by a disgusting man who uses religion as an excuse. although no quotation marks do my head in

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent thriller with a great noir feel. Full review to follow.

[~bookisham · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - pg 190

[Steve Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a thin plot, but I nevertheless enjoyed this bloody and violent novel, which sees a PI go into a barmy religious compound to attempt to rescue a girl. A good bible quoting villain who sees evil everywhere and some pretty gruesome scenes keep you reading. There's an eye-wateringly memorable scene in which the PI has to try and escape a painful situation that lingers long. Not perfect, but certainly an enjoyable read.

[Syndi Siahaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is okay. There is a lot of violence and sexual interaction which is not my taste. The lack of quotation mark is a little irritating. However, it's pretty easy to differentiate who spoke what due to the writing simplicity.

[Faizan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a filmy book.

Action packed completed in one read

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, although there were some parts that were a bit gruesome. At times I was reading whilst my eyes were trying to squeeze shut so they didn't have to experience the events on the page!

It took me a little while to get into it as there are no speech marks around conversations, so I wasn't sure if my anal-brain would be able to cope with it. I'm so glad that I persevered as I hardly noticed they were missing in the end.

Damien seemed a bit of a typical seedy PI at first, but I very soon realised that he cares enough about his client to do whatever it takes. I just never imagined to what extent he would have to go to get Lily back. The scenes in the feed-shed will stay with me for quite some time and if this book is ever made into a film, I will have to hide behind the sofa during that part.

The female characters of Abigail and Lily were given an interesting history. Due to her history, it wasn't surprisingly that Abigail found herself in the cult. She was lucky to break free but I did wonder about her motivations for trying to get Lily back - was she more interested in the money or her daughter? I felt really sorry for Lily, as all she had ever known was the cult but it was interesting that a part of her realised that the things Rhett Mosley did weren't right.

Mosley was a great character - a supposed man of God with the characteristics of a devil. He was ultimately motivated by greed and I wondered what he planned to do with his piles of cash in the end. Perhaps slip all of his "children" a suicide pill, then head off to Vegas for a weekend of debauchery before setting up a new cult. To find out what does actually happen to him, you'll just have to read the book!

This a really fast-paced thriller that gets under your skin and is written so vividly that there were many grimaces and gasps of horror.

I received this book from the publisher, Pan Macmillan, in exchange for an honest review.

[Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Jahn, I can see a bit of Cormac McCarthy in him, I read all of his books and liked every one of em.This Dark Hour is another Jahn's 5star thriller that keeps you reading until you finish it. It's a story of a damaged PI who somehow keeps his pieces together and grinds on. in Dark Hour, just like Janh's other books, the violence is vivid, the tension is high, the imagery of the world often bleak but sometimes beautiful, and the characters get under your skin whether you want them there or not.

[Kimberly Oram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite Ryan David Jahn book. While there are a few cringey violent scenes, it doesn't pack the punch that Good Neighbours or even The Dispatcher did. These confronting punches are why I choose to read His books.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

A private detective is asked to rescue a girl from a religious cult.

The writing and characters were a bit lame. The format of the book (no speech marks) added to my disappointment.