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The Dark Before Dawn
The ruthless killing of a foreign nobleman plunges Kasper Stark, an enigmatic young officer, into a perilous maze of treacherous intrigue and two-faced diplomacy. A thrilling new series by the Amazon best-selling author of Fairchild. Vienna, 1814. As the powers of Europe gather to negotiate peace, there’s little to be found for Kasper Stark, working for the chief of Austria’s secret police. In a city rife with schemes and double dealing, every prince and every lady’s maid is spying or party to some plot. When a Prussian count is found dead on the eve of the peace conference, Kasper falls into into a deadly game of revenge and conspiracy. Faced with virtuoso liars, quicksand allegiances, and his own unscrupulous commander, Kasper races to unmask the killer, before the investigation reveals his own impossible secrets. "Kasper Stark will surprise and delight you like no other character you’ve encountered before. 1814 Vienna roars to life in Jaima Fixsen’s deft hands. Wonderfully original and beautifully written, The Dark Before Dawn is a book to savor, a perfect read." —Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author "An engrossing blend of mystery, espionage, and romance that beautifully evokes the deceit, double crosses, and romantic intrigues of the Congress of Vienna." —Tracy Grant, author of The Duke's Gambit "[an] atmospheric page-turner" —Emily Organ, author of the Penny Green Victorian mystery series
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2018
77 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Jaima Fixsen
15 books192 followersJaima Fixsen is a USA Today and international bestselling author living and writing in Alberta, Canada. Her novel The Girl in His Shadow (co-authored under the pen name Audrey Blake) was selected as Libby's 2022 Big Library Read and has been translated into eight languages.
Jaima studied occupational therapy at the University of Alberta, and her experiences learning anatomy and dissecting cadavers began her fascination with the history of science and medical ethics. She loves reading, snow, mountains, snow, history and snow. And Diet Coke.
Jaima studied occupational therapy at the University of Alberta, and her experiences learning anatomy and dissecting cadavers began her fascination with the history of science and medical ethics. She loves reading, snow, mountains, snow, history and snow. And Diet Coke.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 22, 2018
2.5 stars
I loved Fixsen's Fairchild series, I was intrigued by the unusual Viennese setting of this novel, I was looking forward to a perilous maze of treacherous intrigue and two-faced diplomacy.
But the read turned out to be a disappointment for me. I struggled with the premise of the impersonation at the core of the story from a farfetched reason at the start of the pretense to an unbelievable way it continued. A slow-moving plot didn't help when a combination of mystery, espionage, and a little romance was expected.
I loved Fixsen's Fairchild series, I was intrigued by the unusual Viennese setting of this novel, I was looking forward to a perilous maze of treacherous intrigue and two-faced diplomacy.
But the read turned out to be a disappointment for me. I struggled with the premise of the impersonation at the core of the story from a farfetched reason at the start of the pretense to an unbelievable way it continued. A slow-moving plot didn't help when a combination of mystery, espionage, and a little romance was expected.
October 26, 2018
Pretty good writing, but a ridiculous premise which segued into a dreaded RO-mance story with a semi-cliffhanger and a sequel. I will not continue the series.
November 21, 2018
This was a well-written mystery. I loved the historical background and the twists and turns. I didn't like the fact that I was never able to visualize any of the characters in my head though...their descriptions were vague to non-existent and added to my confusion, as there were a lot of them. Still, with the main character's revelations, I'd be interested in reading the next book.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
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July 7, 2018Wonderful story and suspenseful plot that is impossible to put down. Wonderful characters and witty dialogue that is so characteristic of Jaima Fixsen's books. Can't wait for the next one!
July 11, 2018
I am a huge fan of Jaima Fixsen's, and was thrilled to receive an ARC of this, her newest book. I usually read historical romance novels (her 'Fairchild' series is outstanding), but once in a while branch out to other genres. Well, this book is historical, does have romance in the plot, but it is mainly a mystery thriller, and I absolutely loved it. Kept me on the edge of my seat with twists and turns, but there is so much more going on. The characters' interactions and relationships are intense and beautifully written, the plot is outrageous but plausible, and the ending - well, it ties up all the loose ends, but leaves you wanting to read more about these intriguing players in this very electrifying story. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
I received an advance reader copy of this book, and have decided to leave an honest review. Honestly!
I received an advance reader copy of this book, and have decided to leave an honest review. Honestly!
July 1, 2018
Vienna, 1814. Intrigue, international politics, ambition, power, murder, with a thread of complicated desire. As always, Jaima Fixsen brings impeccable attention to detail and passion for history to her narrative. Fans of her Fairchild series will find plenty of the witty exchanges and heartfelt emotions they fell in love with, historical mystery fans are in for a treat--this plot is twisty and clever. I'm very much looking forward to the next story in the series!
I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the author, and the opinion expressed above is entirely my own.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the author, and the opinion expressed above is entirely my own.
July 18, 2018
The Dark Before Dawn by Jaima Fixsen is another great book! Kasper Stark Is a young officer trying to stay alive and find out who is responsible for killing a Prussian count. One of his leads is a young woman who. . . Who exactly is she? Set in 1814 Vienna, this is a master piece of intrigue, romance, and thrilling action that will keep you reading way past your bed time!
I loved how this was set in a city we seldom see in historical novels, yet it was brought to life by the author’s talented writing.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I loved how this was set in a city we seldom see in historical novels, yet it was brought to life by the author’s talented writing.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
July 4, 2018
Fixsen’s books, so masterfully written, are always a delight to read. Her descriptive phrases create powerful word pictures. The Dark Before Dawn,
is an exciting thriller that will keep you guessing.
is an exciting thriller that will keep you guessing.
December 2, 2018
Wow. This historical suspense novel takes place during the Congress of Vienna in 1814. Great pacing, well-researched setting, espionage, betrayal, murder, you name it. The central character is brilliant, but I can’t say any more without giving too much away. Highly recommended!!
February 7, 2019
Kasper Stark investigates a murder for the secret police, while trying to keep his own secrets. Namely that he's actually a girl named Klara. This engrossing mystery is chock full of murder, mayhem, espionage, and thrills. I can't wait for the next book!
August 14, 2018
Interesting setting amid intrigue. Not a big fan of romantic mysteries.
September 3, 2018
Memorable Historical Thriller
I had never heard of this author and I thought that I wasn’t really in the mood for something a bit ‘heavy’ when I opened the book and was going to close it and find a lighter one. Too late! I read the first couple of pages and I was lost, completely hooked, and stayed that way until I had finished.
Vienna in 1814 is a hotbed of spies, intrigues, and dalliances. Heads of State, diplomats, and everyone with a grievance and hopes of some reparation are crowding into Vienna for the Congress after decades of war.
Kasper Stark has been seconded to Austria’s Secret Police as a secretary for the duration of the Congress and when a Prussian count is found murdered, Kasper and Anton Spaller, another of the secretaries, are tasked with finding the murderer. Kasper has his own reasons for finding the murderer and there are a number of people, both male and female who had reason to kill the count as he was a thoroughly unsavoury man.
This story is anything but ‘heavy’ as I had initially thought and is rather startling but credible. There is a vein of humour lurking within the writing and the characters are many and varied and are brought to life by the author with all the complexities of real people. The city is well-described from the great palaces and churches to the mean little alleys and has obviously been as thoroughly researched as the historical setting of the story.
This story is one that I lost myself in and one I will read again. Memorable characters, history woven into the fabric of the story, intelligent, talented writing, a great suspenseful story. What more could a reader possibly want?
I had never heard of this author and I thought that I wasn’t really in the mood for something a bit ‘heavy’ when I opened the book and was going to close it and find a lighter one. Too late! I read the first couple of pages and I was lost, completely hooked, and stayed that way until I had finished.
Vienna in 1814 is a hotbed of spies, intrigues, and dalliances. Heads of State, diplomats, and everyone with a grievance and hopes of some reparation are crowding into Vienna for the Congress after decades of war.
Kasper Stark has been seconded to Austria’s Secret Police as a secretary for the duration of the Congress and when a Prussian count is found murdered, Kasper and Anton Spaller, another of the secretaries, are tasked with finding the murderer. Kasper has his own reasons for finding the murderer and there are a number of people, both male and female who had reason to kill the count as he was a thoroughly unsavoury man.
This story is anything but ‘heavy’ as I had initially thought and is rather startling but credible. There is a vein of humour lurking within the writing and the characters are many and varied and are brought to life by the author with all the complexities of real people. The city is well-described from the great palaces and churches to the mean little alleys and has obviously been as thoroughly researched as the historical setting of the story.
This story is one that I lost myself in and one I will read again. Memorable characters, history woven into the fabric of the story, intelligent, talented writing, a great suspenseful story. What more could a reader possibly want?
September 24, 2018
The plot for this book was amazing. It was very mystery-like but still fast paced enough to belong to the 'thriller' genre. The twist ending of Sophia, the count's wife, being the killer was perfect. I find in books like these the author will throw a crazy twist ending with no clues to the murderer/criminal and just do it for the sake of an unexpected plot twist. This book does not do that. I didn't have the count's wife on my personal suspect list (Levi was my #1), but there were still clues to support her being the killer.
Another thing I liked about the book were the characters. Every character was 3 dimensional, even the count, who died in the second chapter. Klara is sorta a tesseract (a cube inside of a cube) since she is 2 completely different people.
To conclude, this book is definitely worth picking up. The setting is beautifully detailed, the characters are believable, and the plot is fast paced with some awesome twists. I can't wait for the sequel.
Another thing I liked about the book were the characters. Every character was 3 dimensional, even the count, who died in the second chapter. Klara is sorta a tesseract (a cube inside of a cube) since she is 2 completely different people.
To conclude, this book is definitely worth picking up. The setting is beautifully detailed, the characters are believable, and the plot is fast paced with some awesome twists. I can't wait for the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2019
One of the best books I've read in a very long time!
I started reading this book because I enjoyed Jaima Fixsen's other books, and I am interested in anything related to the Vienna Congress. I never expected to be so thoroughly drawn in by this book, and was exceptionally pleased by the quality of the writing, the characters, the setting, the whole mood!
I loved the characters and felt as if I knew them personally. Fixsen brought them to life, as three-dimensional people--not just vehicles to move the plot along. There were no foolish miscommunications that prolonged the drama unnecessarily. Everything that happened was believable and inevitable.
The plot! It was so interesting, that I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. At the end of almost every chapter, my heart was in my throat. I had to reread whole passages to make sure of what just happened. Not due to any problem with the writing (that was perfect!), it's just that I was drawn in and cared about what would happen to the main characters--they were very likable, but I found all the characters fascinating.
The mood and setting were remarkable. I felt I was right there, and learned more and more about the history of the time in an entertaining way.
I CAN'T WAIT for the next book in the series to come out! I had bought the book myself over the summer, but didn't read it right away. When I won an audio version of this book in a giveaway through Tantor Audio, I read/listened to it then. I'm so happy I didn't delay any longer. It was amazingly good!
I started reading this book because I enjoyed Jaima Fixsen's other books, and I am interested in anything related to the Vienna Congress. I never expected to be so thoroughly drawn in by this book, and was exceptionally pleased by the quality of the writing, the characters, the setting, the whole mood!
I loved the characters and felt as if I knew them personally. Fixsen brought them to life, as three-dimensional people--not just vehicles to move the plot along. There were no foolish miscommunications that prolonged the drama unnecessarily. Everything that happened was believable and inevitable.
The plot! It was so interesting, that I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. At the end of almost every chapter, my heart was in my throat. I had to reread whole passages to make sure of what just happened. Not due to any problem with the writing (that was perfect!), it's just that I was drawn in and cared about what would happen to the main characters--they were very likable, but I found all the characters fascinating.
The mood and setting were remarkable. I felt I was right there, and learned more and more about the history of the time in an entertaining way.
I CAN'T WAIT for the next book in the series to come out! I had bought the book myself over the summer, but didn't read it right away. When I won an audio version of this book in a giveaway through Tantor Audio, I read/listened to it then. I'm so happy I didn't delay any longer. It was amazingly good!
December 30, 2022
This story is set in the 1800s and is centered on Kasper Stark, an agent for the government. There is a failed blackmail attempt and then a murder. This triggers intrigues, plots, and sets the intelligence community into a fervor of activity. Kasper attempts to navigate the situation while protecting her very deeply hidden secrets. Things don't end up exactly the way Kasper wants but he comes closer to being his true self. The plot was creative and had many unexpected twists. The character were all realistic and had interesting but believable motivations. I really enjoyed this book and if it is part of a series I look forward to see how Kasper gets out of the jam that the book ends with.
January 22, 2019
Mulan's Austrian counterpart is in Vienna for a masterful whodunnit thriller!
This book will surprise you. A lot. It''s beautifully written, expertly plotted, and filled with a diverse group of characters, each with compelling backstories and voices. I was second guessing my own guesses till the end.
The ending did a lot unresolved that I'm hoping to see addressed in the sequel, yet it still brings the story to close without feeling like you've been cut off in the middle of the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves smart alecky banter, layered mysteries, and detailed historical fiction in unusual settings. Jaima Fixsen is the master of this kind of in depth historical, and this book takes that skill up a notch even more.
Statement of Bias: I know this author personally, she is, in fact, my sister. With authors I know I follow a policy of posting only if I like their book and staying silent if I don't like a particular work of theirs, but The Dark Before Dawn is too good not to talk about.
This book will surprise you. A lot. It''s beautifully written, expertly plotted, and filled with a diverse group of characters, each with compelling backstories and voices. I was second guessing my own guesses till the end.
The ending did a lot unresolved that I'm hoping to see addressed in the sequel, yet it still brings the story to close without feeling like you've been cut off in the middle of the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves smart alecky banter, layered mysteries, and detailed historical fiction in unusual settings. Jaima Fixsen is the master of this kind of in depth historical, and this book takes that skill up a notch even more.
Statement of Bias: I know this author personally, she is, in fact, my sister. With authors I know I follow a policy of posting only if I like their book and staying silent if I don't like a particular work of theirs, but The Dark Before Dawn is too good not to talk about.
December 14, 2018
Another good story from Fixsen, this time set in Vienna after the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, and during the preparations for the Congress of Vienna. Klara has been masquerading as a boy since she was 12 at the insistence of her beautiful opera singer mother. Klara works as a secretary for Baron Hagen, the head of the the emperor's police force and chief spy master. She becomes involved in a blackmail scheme that leads to a murder which she is instructed to solve. There are lots of possible culprits,some intriguing characters, and a cliffhanger ending. Recommended.
September 5, 2018
I had a slow start with this book because I typically read mysteries set in Victorian England or older America so it took me a while to adjust to the Austrian setting. However, once I acclimated, this story of a young spy living a double life and trying to solve a murder before being blamed and or outed held my interest. I enjoyed it enough to log immediately on to purchase the next in the series.
October 13, 2018
4.5 stars.
Blackmail, murder, secrets, spies, lies, a complicated romance, and more secrets.
A fast-paced historical mystery, centered around the Congress of Vienna in 1814.
I love the author’s attention to historical detail. The characters are multi-dimensional, each with their own well-developed backstory. Kaspar Stark’s secret may be the biggest one of all.
Blackmail, murder, secrets, spies, lies, a complicated romance, and more secrets.
A fast-paced historical mystery, centered around the Congress of Vienna in 1814.
I love the author’s attention to historical detail. The characters are multi-dimensional, each with their own well-developed backstory. Kaspar Stark’s secret may be the biggest one of all.
September 6, 2024
This was a bit different than I was expecting. I wasn't crazy about the love interest and the whole disguise thing seemed a little far-fetched. It also seems like a first book in a series, but there have not been any other books written. This resulted in the ending feeling rather unsatisfactory to me.
August 9, 2018
Lets wait until book 2 before I decide just whether or not I really like this book. Of course it means a year....sigh.
Not a bad start
Not a bad start
August 10, 2018
A thoroughly enjoyable historical thriller. I want to read more of this story.
August 17, 2018
I struggled with the premise of the impersonation at the core of the story. Why did I keep reading? To see how it unravelled? Intrigue galore if you can get past the duplicity.
February 11, 2019
Different from anything else I've read recently; looking for ward to the next book.
June 20, 2019
Kasper Stark is living in Vienna in 1814 and working for the chief of the secret police, but when a murder threatens to unveil Kasper's personal secrets, things get dangerous, and he may not only be unmasked, but accused of the murder. You see, Kasper is actually not what he seems, and has assumed a false life and identity, that if revealed, will destroy all that he has worked for in his life.
A fun mystery, and Kasper's secret is pretty incredible. The romance element fell a little flat for me, but I loved the mystery and the adventures.
A fun mystery, and Kasper's secret is pretty incredible. The romance element fell a little flat for me, but I loved the mystery and the adventures.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews