Dark Men: A Silver Bear Thriller

Silver Bear #3

by Derek Haas

Columbus has retired. or so he thinks. He and his lover, Risina, a mysterious rare-book dealer, have fled to a tiny Italian coastal village where no one knows their names. And yet Columbus has trouble letting go.


His paranoia is justified when, one day, he notices a suspicious man following him, and within days he’s back in Chicago trying to figure out why his old fence has been kidnapped and maybe even killed. The ransom note left behind demands Columbus by name.


The Silver Bear must now sever this last link with his dark past if he and Risina are to ever have hope at a new life. yet Risina seems to show a remarkable knack for the kill herself . . . and perhaps there won’t be a chance for turning back.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Crime

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2011

About the author

Derek Haas is the author of five books about an assassin and one about a spy. He co-created the show CHICAGO FIRE, and executive produces PD and MED. He also co-wrote the screenplays for 3:10 TO YUMA, WANTED, and 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS. Derek lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Nathan Su'A-Chang]

I had decided to read the "Dark Men" after noticing the dead line of the wide reading assignment is nearing an end, so I made my way to my closest library and picked the best looking book cover I could find.

The story starts with the hardened contract killer Columbus, being dubbed the silver bear for his ruthless, cutthroat attitude to killing. Now forced out of retirement because of his previous boss, Archie is now missing and his new lackey "Smoke" hunts Columbus down in a small Italian village. With the help of Smoke and his lover Risha they are forced to find who ever kidnaped Archie.

I enjoyed the book for its compelling narrative, and possibly over descriptive scenes of adrenaline rushing action scenes of shooting, stabbing, and killing.
Then easing into deceive work, trying to solve how they may find Archie.
I felt that it had nice quick and easy progress since things don't seem to dragged out, introducing many plot points and characters then end them both all in one chapter, and strangely doesn't feel rushed. Describes characters with their hardships and highlights all packed with personality.

I have learnt a lot from the book, many things violent such as were to point a gun at someone at point blank, where to hit someone to hit vital organs and many more. Also the many slang words invoking crime and the use of body language and the capacity to read it.

[Michael L Wilkerson (Papa Gray Wolf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Silver Bear series some time ago, finishing the series either last year or maybe the year before. I see that I haven't rated them and without going into details, this is a good, good book.

[Marti Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in the Silver Bear trilogy, it does not disappoint. Derek is such a good writer. I guess I'm extra thrilled for him since he's my friend. :)

[David Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series, one of my favorites!

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hit men have earned the right to be on edge. Columbus has extra reason to be edgy, and that sense of edginess drives the book.

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging, hard hitting crime fiction. Easy to drop in and get lost in this - a solid trilogy. 4 stars!

[Milton Louie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know about this assassin series of the Silver Bear. It looks like he is coming out of retirement because his fence, Archie (the person who supplies the data on the hit) has been kidnapped. And in Archie's safe was instructions to get Columbus (the assassin who retired) for help. Archie's assistant, Smoke finds Columbus for help. But Columbus has a lover, Risina who wants to go with him. This may be a story that allows the possibility of continuation of the Silver Bear series. Oh Smokes got killed. In the end the kidnapper is kill. And there is a twist in the end. It was to see who is the best assassin. The winner gets to work for the government, the dark men. And looks like Risina may be his new fence with the help of Archie.

[Linda Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark novel that is actually the third in the series but there is enough background it can be an entertaining stand alone read. Love the main charecter and his matter of fact outlook, he's nows how the game (the ocntract killing game that is) is played and is careful to observe the rules of it. I found myself suprised that I was rooting for this character, especialy given what his trade is, but to be sure, I did root for him and was pleased that he came out of it ok.

Now to go read the first two...

[Lori Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't know this was the third in a series but I'll just pretend the first two are prequels when I read them! Liked the main character - he reminds me a bit of Jack Reacher, though a little more twisted. Second thought, maybe he's more like Dexter - a killer who's found an avenue for his "talents".

[Elizabeth Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending was unexpected and I really need to know what happens next!! As for the rest of the novel - I still find myself caring what happens to the assassin, and I'm still rooting for him. There were quite a few surprises in this story and several twists and turns. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent; Continuing character: Columbus; Columbus and his girl have moved on and away from the profession of a hit man, until a friend is kidnapped and he is pulled back into the game - with his girlfriend along with him

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual take on the contract killer as protagonist. Almost poetic in places.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick romp. The author is a very successful screen writer who happens to be the son of a good friend of my brother. I will check out the next one.

[Lynn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked Silver Bear better.

[MaryAlice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not remember this novel; just adding approximate Read Date found in a Blog Post.

[Michael Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great finish to the Silver Bear trilogy. Frenetic pace, great action, and new twists and turns for Columbus to deal with. This was a great story.

[Jim A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the trilogy, this was my least favorite, while still being a quick, fun read.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Raymond Chandler but significantly smarter than Stieg Larsson. A fast, fun read. I just wish I'd known this book was the last of a trilogy. I would have liked to start with book number 1.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, easy to read thriller. Violent, interesting, good characters. A look into a shady world, but is it the end?

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most complete of the three because it involved a real secondary character and some evolution of the the main character when he gets tangled up with a woman.

[Georgene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent thriller.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underrated series if your into assassins theme novels 5 star