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The Dark Passage Series #1
The Dark Truth
"I was a predator. And I was going to own it."
A Night Out
San Francisco PR pro Elizabeth Rubis reluctantly agrees to a night out on the town. Little does she know that her life will be altered forever as childhood night terrors come to life.
A Face in the Window
Elizabeth's deepest, darkest fears crawl out of the inky blackness as her lifelong tormentor is revealed during a rare Northern California thunderstorm. A hallucination in the raindrops proves to be an evil, yet familiar entity.
A Baptism in Blood
Fueled by hatred for her tormentor, Elizabeth cuts a bloody swath across the San Francisco Bay Area in a desperate quest for revenge. No one is safe from her rage, not even her friends and family.
A Night Out
San Francisco PR pro Elizabeth Rubis reluctantly agrees to a night out on the town. Little does she know that her life will be altered forever as childhood night terrors come to life.
A Face in the Window
Elizabeth's deepest, darkest fears crawl out of the inky blackness as her lifelong tormentor is revealed during a rare Northern California thunderstorm. A hallucination in the raindrops proves to be an evil, yet familiar entity.
A Baptism in Blood
Fueled by hatred for her tormentor, Elizabeth cuts a bloody swath across the San Francisco Bay Area in a desperate quest for revenge. No one is safe from her rage, not even her friends and family.
271 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Knaak
9 books40 followersJerry Knaak, a 10-year U.S. Navy veteran, has been writing professionally for 25 years.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., he enlisted in the Navy upon graduation from high school in 1987. Since serving as a radio and television personality in with Armed Forces Radio and Television at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, and as a writer for Naval Aviation News magazine in Washington, D.C., Jerry worked in professional football for 20 years. He has produced thousands of articles for online publication during his career. Knaak started his sports writing career with Baltimore Football Weekly, covering the Canadian Football League.
When he’s not writing gritty tales of terror or researching gridiron heroics, Jerry enjoys reading, watching movies and good serial television, and exercise. He is also an avid blogger and hosts a regular podcast.
The Dark Passage Series is his first foray into fiction writing.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., he enlisted in the Navy upon graduation from high school in 1987. Since serving as a radio and television personality in with Armed Forces Radio and Television at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, and as a writer for Naval Aviation News magazine in Washington, D.C., Jerry worked in professional football for 20 years. He has produced thousands of articles for online publication during his career. Knaak started his sports writing career with Baltimore Football Weekly, covering the Canadian Football League.
When he’s not writing gritty tales of terror or researching gridiron heroics, Jerry enjoys reading, watching movies and good serial television, and exercise. He is also an avid blogger and hosts a regular podcast.
The Dark Passage Series is his first foray into fiction writing.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 9, 2017
"The Dark Truth" is an amazing first book in the new series, "The Dark Passage". It's dark, gritty, and an extremely exciting ride! Elizabeth takes us along with her as she struggles to accept her new existence - and we're the only ones safe from her rage.
I'm thrilled to know that Book #2, "The Dark Descent", will be releasing April 2018.
I'm thrilled to know that Book #2, "The Dark Descent", will be releasing April 2018.
July 23, 2018
This was a fun first novel from Knaack with an interesting take on some vampire lore. Elizabeth gets herself into a bit of a mess when she wakes up inside a refrigerator in the morgue. She's not exactly sure what's going on, but she knows she needs to get out of there, taking down an attendant in the process. Elizabeth was a strong heroine, which I appreciate so much in books. She realized she got herself into a bad situation and went with it.
We follow Elizabeth as she traverses her way into learning how to cope with this new life. She is unapologetic about who she is and the means she needs to take to survive, which is super refreshing in a novel that takes on vampires. Some of the lore Knaack added was amusing to me and I would like to think he did that on purpose (such as Elizabeth not being able to see herself in the mirror. That was such a huge hassle for her, I loved it).
The Dark Truth was a good read, a refreshing take on vampires as we watched the body count pile up. The few other characters that were introduced were strong, and I am pleased to see that the detective is in book 2, I look forward to continuing the story.
We follow Elizabeth as she traverses her way into learning how to cope with this new life. She is unapologetic about who she is and the means she needs to take to survive, which is super refreshing in a novel that takes on vampires. Some of the lore Knaack added was amusing to me and I would like to think he did that on purpose (such as Elizabeth not being able to see herself in the mirror. That was such a huge hassle for her, I loved it).
The Dark Truth was a good read, a refreshing take on vampires as we watched the body count pile up. The few other characters that were introduced were strong, and I am pleased to see that the detective is in book 2, I look forward to continuing the story.
November 23, 2017
Normally, I'm not the type to enjoy vampire novels. I feel the genre has been done (and done, and done) but this was new. Completely unexpected telling of the typical vampire story. The main character was both likeable and not likeable and the story was a quick read. Interested to see what happens to Elizabeth from here.
Received a complimentary copy for an honest review.
Received a complimentary copy for an honest review.
August 20, 2020
this is the first book I read from this autor and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book, very well writen with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! Can´t wait for book 2! Amazing job! if you like vampire stories this one is definitely a must read! It´s fresh and the story is really interesting!
August 1, 2018
Gritty and terrifying
The Dark Truth is definitely that, dark. It brings a terror to Elizabeth, who is lovely neurotic, but strong. So very strong. Knaak writes well and brings light into a darkness and terrorizing story. It's not that romantic vampiric story, it's raw and deviant, and it brings the reader into the dark side. It's a magnificent journey as the characters brings life into the story, and sends the reader in on the journey. A very well written story, one that makes you want to turn the next page, and jump with every little noise. I look forward to more stories from this new author.
The Dark Truth is definitely that, dark. It brings a terror to Elizabeth, who is lovely neurotic, but strong. So very strong. Knaak writes well and brings light into a darkness and terrorizing story. It's not that romantic vampiric story, it's raw and deviant, and it brings the reader into the dark side. It's a magnificent journey as the characters brings life into the story, and sends the reader in on the journey. A very well written story, one that makes you want to turn the next page, and jump with every little noise. I look forward to more stories from this new author.
February 9, 2018
This book has a good story that keeps your interest throughout. I didn't care for the foul language in the book, however.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
February 18, 2018
Anne Rice would be very proud that these vampires don't sparkle and follow the old school rules of being a vampire! Very well written and full of action - I am looking forward to book 2.
January 12, 2026
Author Knaak gives us a truly unique protagonist. Elizabeth Rubis is a single, successful, forty-something, cat-owning, public relations executive leading a quiet life in San Francisco. Quiet until she visits a sketchy bar with her best friend, is kidnapped, tortured, and winds up in the morgue completely drained of blood, but somehow still alive. Or maybe “undead” is a better term.
What makes her truly unique is that the change that has been visited upon her turns her into a bloodthirsty (literally) monster who kills without qualms or remorse to feed her unholy need. And yet, Knaak manages to make her someone worth rooting for even as she eviscerates her victims. A victim herself, bent on revenge, she continues to value her relationship with her best friend, looking out for her well-being even as she hunts her prey. She is quite an achievement, and The Dark Truth leaves you wanting more. Fortunately for Knaak’s readers, this is the first of a four-book series. On to book two!
What makes her truly unique is that the change that has been visited upon her turns her into a bloodthirsty (literally) monster who kills without qualms or remorse to feed her unholy need. And yet, Knaak manages to make her someone worth rooting for even as she eviscerates her victims. A victim herself, bent on revenge, she continues to value her relationship with her best friend, looking out for her well-being even as she hunts her prey. She is quite an achievement, and The Dark Truth leaves you wanting more. Fortunately for Knaak’s readers, this is the first of a four-book series. On to book two!
September 11, 2018
I had a lot of high hopes for this book. I read so many good reviews and I loved that the main character was in her 40’s. I thought t would be great since I’m currently in my 30’s and sometimes get tired of reading about the young women.
I’m not sure where all the 5 star reviews came from, but I now wonder if they were fake.
The idea behind the story had so much potential, but I’m sorry to say it was poorly written. Many things that look like potential side stories were dropped. I know it’s a series, but Rhodes dropped things weren’t dropped for the next book. It was like it was just forgotten about. Like they was a great idea, but then it got forgotten about. I felt like I was reading a rough draft not a final draft. A ton of potential, but poorly executed l and very little substance to the plot or to the characters.
I’m not sure where all the 5 star reviews came from, but I now wonder if they were fake.
The idea behind the story had so much potential, but I’m sorry to say it was poorly written. Many things that look like potential side stories were dropped. I know it’s a series, but Rhodes dropped things weren’t dropped for the next book. It was like it was just forgotten about. Like they was a great idea, but then it got forgotten about. I felt like I was reading a rough draft not a final draft. A ton of potential, but poorly executed l and very little substance to the plot or to the characters.
September 20, 2020
Ever read a book just to see how it ends and hoping it gets better? Stuck in the head of a whiny yokel moran serial killer that obvs never watched Law and Order. The antihero bumbles around town on a blood drunken murder spree where you smack your head the entire journey praying she gets smarter and less of a pain in the ass. Nope, sadly for all, that doesn't happen.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews