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One Dark Night
He sees his wife’s eyes watching him in the rear-view mirror, the kids up on their knees to get a better look. That’s when he hears the scream…
You’re driving home from a family outing one afternoon, when a speeding car cuts you up, nearly causing you to crash. Like anyone would, you pull over to confront the driver.
But a glance into the backseat of the speeding car reveals a woman fighting to escape. She is terrified and she’s screaming for your help: these men have murdered her husband…
What would you do?
An addictive thriller with plenty of twists – fans of Harlan Coben, James Patterson and Robert Dugoni will be completely hooked.
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You’re driving home from a family outing one afternoon, when a speeding car cuts you up, nearly causing you to crash. Like anyone would, you pull over to confront the driver.
But a glance into the backseat of the speeding car reveals a woman fighting to escape. She is terrified and she’s screaming for your help: these men have murdered her husband…
What would you do?
An addictive thriller with plenty of twists – fans of Harlan Coben, James Patterson and Robert Dugoni will be completely hooked.
<
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
464 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Tom Bale
25 books251 followersTom Bale is the author of nine thrillers, published between 2006 and 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
October 9, 2018
As in ‘See How They Run’ and ‘All Fall Down ‘ author Tom Bale manages to place an ordinary everyday family in a most EXTRA ordinary and terrifying situation and that’s why this author is so darn readable!
A seemingly ordinary case of road rage spirals into a truly terrifying situation for Adam, his wife Katy, and their two children. After being cut up by another driver, causing slight damage to his car, Adam decides to take the driver to task, but as he approaches the other car, he realises that a woman is being held hostage by two men in the rear of the car. The woman calls to him for help, but he and his family will have reason to wish he’d just ignored the minor damage caused to his car, as they are abducted and pulled unwillingly into a very dark and dangerous world!
I really enjoy Tom Bale’s style of writing, and as ever, the narrative was exciting - a feeling of ‘how could such a minor incident lead to such a terrifying chain of events’? I’ll admit there were times when I had to suspend disbelief, and I also felt that the characters could have had a little more depth to them, but all in all another enjoyable read from this very able author!
* My thanks to Bookouture for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
A seemingly ordinary case of road rage spirals into a truly terrifying situation for Adam, his wife Katy, and their two children. After being cut up by another driver, causing slight damage to his car, Adam decides to take the driver to task, but as he approaches the other car, he realises that a woman is being held hostage by two men in the rear of the car. The woman calls to him for help, but he and his family will have reason to wish he’d just ignored the minor damage caused to his car, as they are abducted and pulled unwillingly into a very dark and dangerous world!
I really enjoy Tom Bale’s style of writing, and as ever, the narrative was exciting - a feeling of ‘how could such a minor incident lead to such a terrifying chain of events’? I’ll admit there were times when I had to suspend disbelief, and I also felt that the characters could have had a little more depth to them, but all in all another enjoyable read from this very able author!
* My thanks to Bookouture for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
October 17, 2018
Adam is driving his wife, Katy and their children, Freya and Dylan home one night when an erractic driver almost collides with them. The other car causes a rock to hit and break one of their headlights. Katy wants Adam to let it go and keep driving, but Adam follows the car, flashing his lights and beeping his horn. The other pulls over as does Adam. It is obvious that things are not going to end well when this happens. Ahh, if only he had listened to his wife. When Adam and the other driver get out of their cars, thing go from bad to worse, when a woman in the back of the other car calls for help, Jack and his family are caught in the middle of a nightmare.
The pacing in this book is fairly fast and keeps the reader engaged. I liked that I was not given too much information. This book serves as a cautionary tale against road rage. Sometimes its best to keep going and not engage. In this book, the characters are pretty much in the dark and trying to figure out how one incident has drastically changed their lives. I didn't know what was going on either and I learned things at the same time the characters in the book did.
This book would make for a great plane book. It is pure escapism reading. It was entertaining and kept my interest throughout. This isn't a book where the reader really needs to try and figure things out - just read along and enjoy.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
The pacing in this book is fairly fast and keeps the reader engaged. I liked that I was not given too much information. This book serves as a cautionary tale against road rage. Sometimes its best to keep going and not engage. In this book, the characters are pretty much in the dark and trying to figure out how one incident has drastically changed their lives. I didn't know what was going on either and I learned things at the same time the characters in the book did.
This book would make for a great plane book. It is pure escapism reading. It was entertaining and kept my interest throughout. This isn't a book where the reader really needs to try and figure things out - just read along and enjoy.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
February 6, 2019
Adam is driving home from a family outing one afternoon, when a speeding car nearly causes his car to crash. Like anyone would, he tries confront the driver. But a glance into the backseat of the speeding car reveals a woman fighting to escape.
Soon, what starts as an ordinary case of road rage ends with Adam and his family being taken hostage. What starts as a fun day out with family turns into One Dark Night.
The book wastes no time getting right to the action part. The crux of the story itself was exciting & the constant ‘this could happen to anyone, including you’ is a terrifying thought. An exciting and tense read, One Dark Night is full of action and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
The book can be roughly divided into 2 parts. The first half with the family’s abduction is thrilling and full of tense moments. The pacing in this book is fairly fast and keeps the reader engaged. The author weaves a terrifying story using the real life scenarios. Having said that, there are many plot lines that felt quite far-fetched and unbelievable. Even as a work of fiction, it requires you to suspend disbelief quite a lot.
The story loses a momentum in the second half and it felt like reading a different book altogether. It became very hard to keep track of everything that was going on in the story. Even the ending felt a bit far-fetched. The characters too lacked depth and felt one dimensional.
Having said that, there are plenty of twists and surprises to keep you engaged. If you like your thrillers to be intense and disturbing, this book will entertain you.
Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Tom Bale and NetGalley for the ARC.
Soon, what starts as an ordinary case of road rage ends with Adam and his family being taken hostage. What starts as a fun day out with family turns into One Dark Night.
The book wastes no time getting right to the action part. The crux of the story itself was exciting & the constant ‘this could happen to anyone, including you’ is a terrifying thought. An exciting and tense read, One Dark Night is full of action and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
The book can be roughly divided into 2 parts. The first half with the family’s abduction is thrilling and full of tense moments. The pacing in this book is fairly fast and keeps the reader engaged. The author weaves a terrifying story using the real life scenarios. Having said that, there are many plot lines that felt quite far-fetched and unbelievable. Even as a work of fiction, it requires you to suspend disbelief quite a lot.
The story loses a momentum in the second half and it felt like reading a different book altogether. It became very hard to keep track of everything that was going on in the story. Even the ending felt a bit far-fetched. The characters too lacked depth and felt one dimensional.
Having said that, there are plenty of twists and surprises to keep you engaged. If you like your thrillers to be intense and disturbing, this book will entertain you.
Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Tom Bale and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 29, 2018
This tense crime thriller bears the signature and all the hallmarks of a Tom Bale novel. It is a non-stop tension fuelled, fast paced story with plenty of action and the requisite villains. After a family day out, Adam, Katy and their children, Freya and Dylan are returning home only to be caught up in a car accident that flares up into a shocking situation that spirals way out of control. A woman in the car, Carole, is trying to escape and demands attention when she asks for help after her husband has been murdered. The family are abducted and facing heart pumping danger. Adam tries to do everything to ensure his family are saved as we begin to get closer to the truth of what is happening. This is an atmospheric thriller, full of suspense, twists and surprises in true Tom Bale style. I found this a good read with an occasionally uneven narrative and perhaps a plot that strains credulity at times. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
October 14, 2018
Guest review for Harlequin Junkie- https://www.harlequinkunkie.com
Solid, fast paced thriller!
Solid, fast paced thriller!
October 1, 2018
An exciting and tense read, One Dark Night is full of action and plotting to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. While most of the plot progressions portrayed here were quite far-fetched and unbelievable, if you can turn your need for the realistic off for a bit, I think you will enjoy this for what it is. This is escapism fiction in the highest sense; Bale is an author who is excellent at preying on the reader's deepest, darkest fears and churning out a heart pounding "what if" scenario. I do think that I could have done with a bit more characterization here to ensure a deeper connection with the cast presented, but it was still a fun, rather quick read.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
November 19, 2018
EXCERPT: Waking in a rush, she sat up, heart already thrumming, registering sound and movement and danger. The lounge was in darkness but there was a little illumination from the hall. Enough to make out the moist gleam from the eyes of the man who held a blade to her throat, while someone else pressed a thick cloth over her mouth and nose.
Suffocating, she writhed in panic and tried to cry out, but could already feel her strength ebbing away. As they pinned her to the floor, it felt as though she was melting into a useless liquid.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: He sees his wife’s eyes watching him in the rear-view mirror, the kids up on their knees to get a better look. That’s when he hears the scream…
You’re driving home from a family outing one afternoon, when a speeding car cuts you up, nearly causing you to crash. Like anyone would, you pull over to confront the driver.
But a glance into the backseat of the speeding car reveals a woman fighting to escape. She is terrified and she’s screaming for your help: these men have murdered her husband…
What would you do?
MY THOUGHTS: I struggled to connect with this book. It took me somewhere around half the book to get interested, and that was only briefly. I put it down last night with less than 2% still to read, and debated picking something else up to read this morning. It was a book that if I thought 'I will just read one chapter and then I will go and . . .', I would only read one chapter. Not my normal operating style at all.
I wanted to like this book. I loved the last book I read by this author, See How They Run. It earned 4.5 breathless stars from me. One Dark Night is not in the same class - nowhere near it.
There was no depth to the characters, or the plot, which I felt was contrived. I didn't find it thrilling, or mysterious. My heart didn't pound. My blood didn't race. Had I been given this book to read minus the author's name, I never would have guessed who had written it. In fact, I probably would have said that it was a debut novel by a previously unpublished author that still needed a lot of work. So, not a read that I would recommend. 😕😕
Would I read another book by this author? Definitely. I know how well he can write.
I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it, as many others have. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy and read it.
THE AUTHOR: Tom Bale has had a variety of jobs including retail assistant, claims negotiator and project manager, but none was as exhausting as the several years he spent as a househusband with two pre-school children. Tom has been writing since the age of seven, and completed his first novel at fifteen. After twenty years and hundreds of rejection slips he landed an agent and a book deal with Random House, and he now writes full-time.
He lives in Brighton with his family and swims in the sea as often as the weather permits. He also enjoys walking, cycling and reading, and he probably spends far too much time on the internet.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of One Dark Night by Tom Bale for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Suffocating, she writhed in panic and tried to cry out, but could already feel her strength ebbing away. As they pinned her to the floor, it felt as though she was melting into a useless liquid.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: He sees his wife’s eyes watching him in the rear-view mirror, the kids up on their knees to get a better look. That’s when he hears the scream…
You’re driving home from a family outing one afternoon, when a speeding car cuts you up, nearly causing you to crash. Like anyone would, you pull over to confront the driver.
But a glance into the backseat of the speeding car reveals a woman fighting to escape. She is terrified and she’s screaming for your help: these men have murdered her husband…
What would you do?
MY THOUGHTS: I struggled to connect with this book. It took me somewhere around half the book to get interested, and that was only briefly. I put it down last night with less than 2% still to read, and debated picking something else up to read this morning. It was a book that if I thought 'I will just read one chapter and then I will go and . . .', I would only read one chapter. Not my normal operating style at all.
I wanted to like this book. I loved the last book I read by this author, See How They Run. It earned 4.5 breathless stars from me. One Dark Night is not in the same class - nowhere near it.
There was no depth to the characters, or the plot, which I felt was contrived. I didn't find it thrilling, or mysterious. My heart didn't pound. My blood didn't race. Had I been given this book to read minus the author's name, I never would have guessed who had written it. In fact, I probably would have said that it was a debut novel by a previously unpublished author that still needed a lot of work. So, not a read that I would recommend. 😕😕
Would I read another book by this author? Definitely. I know how well he can write.
I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it, as many others have. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy and read it.
THE AUTHOR: Tom Bale has had a variety of jobs including retail assistant, claims negotiator and project manager, but none was as exhausting as the several years he spent as a househusband with two pre-school children. Tom has been writing since the age of seven, and completed his first novel at fifteen. After twenty years and hundreds of rejection slips he landed an agent and a book deal with Random House, and he now writes full-time.
He lives in Brighton with his family and swims in the sea as often as the weather permits. He also enjoys walking, cycling and reading, and he probably spends far too much time on the internet.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of One Dark Night by Tom Bale for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 21, 2018
Adam, Katy and their two children have been out for the day. They are on their way home when an erratic driver almost runs into them. Angered by the breaking of his headlight and the other cars failure to stop, Adam chases after them. The other driver eventually stops and Adam jumps out to confront the driver. A woman in the back seat of the other car shouts for help witch then leads Jack and his family in the middle of a night name.
This is basically a story of a family who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is not a bad story, it's a bit far fetched at times. The pace is quite steady then it dips a bit in the middle, then it picks up its pace again until the end. There are plenty of twists and surprises. The characters lacked depth and were mostly one dimensional.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Tom Bale for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is basically a story of a family who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is not a bad story, it's a bit far fetched at times. The pace is quite steady then it dips a bit in the middle, then it picks up its pace again until the end. There are plenty of twists and surprises. The characters lacked depth and were mostly one dimensional.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Tom Bale for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2019
The first part of this book goes off at a fast pace keeping the reader glues to its pages.
The secound half lost its way. I struggled with my attention plan, allowing anything to give me a reason to just go off and see to this or that.....
Then struggling to pick it up again.
For me it ended up pure silky escapism in the later parts as some seemed pretty far fetched.
I enjoyed his other books much more.
The secound half lost its way. I struggled with my attention plan, allowing anything to give me a reason to just go off and see to this or that.....
Then struggling to pick it up again.
For me it ended up pure silky escapism in the later parts as some seemed pretty far fetched.
I enjoyed his other books much more.
October 19, 2018
I have read several books by this author and always enjoyed them so had fairly high expectations when I started to read this one. Although I did enjoy the novel I felt just a little let down which is probably due to the high standard previously set by this author.
Maybe I am a little harsh with my review but although I enjoyed the book, I did the plot a little hard to believe at times. I am not put off though and fully intend to continue reading this authors books.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe I am a little harsh with my review but although I enjoyed the book, I did the plot a little hard to believe at times. I am not put off though and fully intend to continue reading this authors books.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2018
Flaming Nora, Bookouture seem to be making all the right moves by signing some fantastically talented authors of which Tom Bale is just one example, and so long as you can suspend your disbelief you are likely to enjoy this one. However, if you like your crime as realistic/close to real life as possible, this is probably a book to pass on as it does stray into far-fetched territory, but what is fiction for if not to showcase a writers imagination and give the reader the gift of pure escapism?
One thing you can be absolutely assured of with Tom Bale's novels is that they are totally immersive and addictive from the first couple of pages right through to the finale, and this one is no exception. As always, the writing is easy to get into, the pace perfect and the plot tightly woven and completely thrilling! It is basically the tale of a family who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The main characters of the family, Adam, Katy and their children Freya and Dylan, are sufficiently developed, although I would've liked to have known a little more background on them but that is a minor point that had no bearing on my overall enjoyment. They were very relatable and believable which meant it was straightforward to get behind them as people, and the use of current social and political issues put the setting of the story firmly in the present.
If you are a sucker for adrenaline-fuelled crime fiction with more thrills and spills than you can shake a stick at, this is definitely worth picking up so long as you don't expect realism. I look forward to the next Bale novel!
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
One thing you can be absolutely assured of with Tom Bale's novels is that they are totally immersive and addictive from the first couple of pages right through to the finale, and this one is no exception. As always, the writing is easy to get into, the pace perfect and the plot tightly woven and completely thrilling! It is basically the tale of a family who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The main characters of the family, Adam, Katy and their children Freya and Dylan, are sufficiently developed, although I would've liked to have known a little more background on them but that is a minor point that had no bearing on my overall enjoyment. They were very relatable and believable which meant it was straightforward to get behind them as people, and the use of current social and political issues put the setting of the story firmly in the present.
If you are a sucker for adrenaline-fuelled crime fiction with more thrills and spills than you can shake a stick at, this is definitely worth picking up so long as you don't expect realism. I look forward to the next Bale novel!
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 18, 2018
One Dark Night by Tom Bale started off with a bang... but for me it didn't keep going. It slowed down and then it really started to drag. The story was a good one but th characters didn't feel realistic and some of their actions were completely far fetched.
A family is on their way home on a Sunday morning when a speeding car cuts them upalmost causing an accident. The driver gets out to confront the other driver and that was his first mistake. In the other car is a woman screaming for her life. The family are them kidnapped and taken away to be locked up. Here is where it started to go wrong for me. So much on either the family locked up and then the kidnappers figuring out what to do.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
A family is on their way home on a Sunday morning when a speeding car cuts them upalmost causing an accident. The driver gets out to confront the other driver and that was his first mistake. In the other car is a woman screaming for her life. The family are them kidnapped and taken away to be locked up. Here is where it started to go wrong for me. So much on either the family locked up and then the kidnappers figuring out what to do.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
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September 23, 2018I can't get over how much this man annoys me...
October 23, 2018
I’ve been waiting for a new Tom Bale book for what seems like ages, but it’s only really since his last one! And it’s safe to say he’s returned on form with One Dark Night.
As with his other books, Bale has a knack for putting ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, and that’s no different in this book.
One Dark Night focuses on Adam, Katy and their two children as they deal with the fallout from a split decision. What follows is an adrenaline-pumping thriller with plenty of action to keep the reader turning the pages.
I always find that I end up wondering if I would have done the same if I was in the situations that Bale puts his characters, but to be honest, I don’t think I’d want to as they always get tangled up in something far bigger than the reader expects.
One Dark Night is a really enjoyable book. It’s got plenty of action, some seriously shady characters and lots of shocking moments. These are really what drive the plot forward, and even in the quieter moments, there is an underlying sense of urgency that is woven through the plot that ramps up the tension.
These quieter moments are where you learn the motivations behind the characters decisions, and though it slows the pace, it really is the only way to explain why things are happening the way they are. Without them, the story would not be as believable. And even though these kinds of plot lines can be a little far-fetched, I think that Tom Bale has pulled it off with One Dark Night. It all lies with that split second decision.
I really felt for the family in this one. They are put through an absolute wringer, and just when you think they’re out the other side, the author pulls the rug out from under them again and the tension is back with a bang.
One Dark Night is a gripping thriller, Tom Bale is on top form with this one!
As with his other books, Bale has a knack for putting ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, and that’s no different in this book.
One Dark Night focuses on Adam, Katy and their two children as they deal with the fallout from a split decision. What follows is an adrenaline-pumping thriller with plenty of action to keep the reader turning the pages.
I always find that I end up wondering if I would have done the same if I was in the situations that Bale puts his characters, but to be honest, I don’t think I’d want to as they always get tangled up in something far bigger than the reader expects.
One Dark Night is a really enjoyable book. It’s got plenty of action, some seriously shady characters and lots of shocking moments. These are really what drive the plot forward, and even in the quieter moments, there is an underlying sense of urgency that is woven through the plot that ramps up the tension.
These quieter moments are where you learn the motivations behind the characters decisions, and though it slows the pace, it really is the only way to explain why things are happening the way they are. Without them, the story would not be as believable. And even though these kinds of plot lines can be a little far-fetched, I think that Tom Bale has pulled it off with One Dark Night. It all lies with that split second decision.
I really felt for the family in this one. They are put through an absolute wringer, and just when you think they’re out the other side, the author pulls the rug out from under them again and the tension is back with a bang.
One Dark Night is a gripping thriller, Tom Bale is on top form with this one!
September 23, 2018
Really enjoyed One Dark Night- an actually gripping thriller that never once loses pace or addictive quality.
A minor issue of road rage leads to a kidnap, a fight for survival and a twisty ride towards the truth. Cleverly designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, it's a one sitting, entertaining and well plotted read.
I liked that it never went over the edge of believable, even during some of its heart stopping moments and Tom Bale has a good eye for creating realistic characters you care about. The bad guys are dastardly but not caricature and have their own layers so overall as well as being a fast paced action thriller it also has plenty of human aspects keeping you immersed in the tale.
Overall very good indeed. I'll have to check out some of this author's other books. Terrific storytelling.
Recommended.
A minor issue of road rage leads to a kidnap, a fight for survival and a twisty ride towards the truth. Cleverly designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, it's a one sitting, entertaining and well plotted read.
I liked that it never went over the edge of believable, even during some of its heart stopping moments and Tom Bale has a good eye for creating realistic characters you care about. The bad guys are dastardly but not caricature and have their own layers so overall as well as being a fast paced action thriller it also has plenty of human aspects keeping you immersed in the tale.
Overall very good indeed. I'll have to check out some of this author's other books. Terrific storytelling.
Recommended.
August 21, 2019
Not one of Tom Bale's best. I'm a fan of his work but this was a bit far-fetched.
September 23, 2018
I guess in basic terms this is a story about a family in the wrong place at the wrong time!!
They are involved in a small car accident but the other car is carrying a hostage....she shouts out...the family are then kidnapped and the story is all about them trying to escape and what happens to them!
I found some of the scenarios unbelievable, at one point the Mum takes her son to a friends party ( as was prev arranged, as them staying away would cause too much interest) and one of the kidnappers accompanies her, yet no one seems to notice and the child says nothing and after they go back to being held captive!
When it ‘all comes out’ and the reason why the original lady was kidnapped is told, for me, again it was a ‘stretching the imagination’ moment
Wasnt keen on any of the characters, most were one dimensional and dreary and they didnt cause any strong feelings one way or another
Saying all that the beginning was tense and exciting and a great feeling of ‘sliding doors’ was prevelant throughout the book
( as a film I imagine it would be better!! )
September 24, 2018
This started off so well, a family of four are driving along a country lane close to their house when they are in an 'almost collision' with another vehicle and as the husband reviews the damage, he sees a woman being held in the back of the other car by two men, she shouts for him to 'help'....and this results in the family being taken hostage. At this point I was literally on the edge of my seat. It's a thrilling start to the book and the family seem interesting.
However, it then seems to lose momentum and the rest of the story is slow and quite plodding.
Not a bad read, just, not that great for me. So, ultimately, a 2.5 star 'OK read'.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the opportunity to preview this book.
However, it then seems to lose momentum and the rest of the story is slow and quite plodding.
Not a bad read, just, not that great for me. So, ultimately, a 2.5 star 'OK read'.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the opportunity to preview this book.
September 30, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy. This book is a classic example of a family being at the wrong place at the wrong time. In doing so, Adam, Katy, and their kids get thrown into a world that changes them forever.
The first half of the book was good, fast, and kept we wanting more. The second half, however, became so slow and unnecessary for me. Sure, the final act gave me something, but it was a chore for me personally to push through. Good concept, but I just feel the execution of the story needed refinement.
The first half of the book was good, fast, and kept we wanting more. The second half, however, became so slow and unnecessary for me. Sure, the final act gave me something, but it was a chore for me personally to push through. Good concept, but I just feel the execution of the story needed refinement.
October 23, 2018
My first book by this author and I have to say it was an interesting read.
I was immediately sucked into the story and when you thought what you were to expect, you were taking in a completely different direction. Once you caught up with that, the author forced your brain to adept once again.
The author takes you on a journey where he makes you realize what your actions can lead you and your family into. A clear case of action - reaction but in a very bad way and better think before you act.
This book is a clear example of expection the unexpected and for the fans of stories that are (a bit) over the top.
It's certainly my cup of tea, so I had a good time reading it. 4 stars.
Thank you, Tom Bale, Bookouture and Netgalley.
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I was immediately sucked into the story and when you thought what you were to expect, you were taking in a completely different direction. Once you caught up with that, the author forced your brain to adept once again.
The author takes you on a journey where he makes you realize what your actions can lead you and your family into. A clear case of action - reaction but in a very bad way and better think before you act.
This book is a clear example of expection the unexpected and for the fans of stories that are (a bit) over the top.
It's certainly my cup of tea, so I had a good time reading it. 4 stars.
Thank you, Tom Bale, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
September 24, 2018
This is an interesting read, but I felt it was let down a little by it's clipped, curt prose - as though it was an outline of a story, and needed fleshing out. I'm not a fan of blousey description, but I can't help but feel that a bit more depth would have helped with the characterisation. Because the characters were not likeable, nor were they understandable. Every one of them seemed peripheral to the story - again I felt they could do with a bit more "meat on their bones".
That being said the tale rollicks along nicely, and comes to a satisfying, if slightly mediocre conclusion. It's quick, unfussy read, not taxing in the slightest and everything comes together in the end.
I was provided with a free copy of this book by NetGalley in return for this review.
That being said the tale rollicks along nicely, and comes to a satisfying, if slightly mediocre conclusion. It's quick, unfussy read, not taxing in the slightest and everything comes together in the end.
I was provided with a free copy of this book by NetGalley in return for this review.
October 25, 2018
Welcome back Tom Bale, oh how I’ve missed you, just in case you haven’t already guessed I love this author’s books and his style of writing. One Dark Night the latest offering from the author is the definition of a “thriller” it’s fast paced, a plot fuelled by tension, with plenty of action. Adam, Katy and their children, Freya and Dylan have spent and enjoyable and perfectly normal day out, but on the journey home they are involved in a car accident which sparks a train of events that place the family’s life’s in jeopardy.
The authors trade mark of putting ordinary folk into extraordinary situations, works really well, as you can’t help thinking “what would I do in a similar situation?” Some readers may consider the plot to be far fetched, but at the end of the day it is a work of fiction and personally I was happy to buckle up and enjoy a very bumpy ride. You can’t help feeling some sympathy for the families terrifying ordeal but there was a small part of me that struggled to connect with any of the characters, and I’m not really sure why, although I did think some of Adam’s and Katy’s decisions were reckless to say the least,
The pace slows about mid way but this time is used to explore the motivation behind the situation the family find themselves in, I know this sounds very vague but I really don’t want to enter spoiler territory. There are some unsavoury characters in this thriller that certainly don’t get the reader’s sympathy, but they do add a dark and dangerous tone to the overall plot. Tom Bale manages to throw in a few surprises along the way which leads to a constant niggling feeing of unease. One Dark Night is a tale with a dark heart, with plenty of suspense and mystery and heart stopping moments, theres plenty to keep thriller lovers reading into the small hours. In my humble opinion this thriller is a very worthy addition to the author’s ever growing list of books.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
The authors trade mark of putting ordinary folk into extraordinary situations, works really well, as you can’t help thinking “what would I do in a similar situation?” Some readers may consider the plot to be far fetched, but at the end of the day it is a work of fiction and personally I was happy to buckle up and enjoy a very bumpy ride. You can’t help feeling some sympathy for the families terrifying ordeal but there was a small part of me that struggled to connect with any of the characters, and I’m not really sure why, although I did think some of Adam’s and Katy’s decisions were reckless to say the least,
The pace slows about mid way but this time is used to explore the motivation behind the situation the family find themselves in, I know this sounds very vague but I really don’t want to enter spoiler territory. There are some unsavoury characters in this thriller that certainly don’t get the reader’s sympathy, but they do add a dark and dangerous tone to the overall plot. Tom Bale manages to throw in a few surprises along the way which leads to a constant niggling feeing of unease. One Dark Night is a tale with a dark heart, with plenty of suspense and mystery and heart stopping moments, theres plenty to keep thriller lovers reading into the small hours. In my humble opinion this thriller is a very worthy addition to the author’s ever growing list of books.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
March 15, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc.
Fast and furious gory action throughout. Twisty, twisty story lines. Work-a-day characters developed well enough to be credible, but not all that memorable. A good read for a rainy evening, no real "brain strain" required. Purely action driven.
3.0 to 3.5 stars
Fast and furious gory action throughout. Twisty, twisty story lines. Work-a-day characters developed well enough to be credible, but not all that memorable. A good read for a rainy evening, no real "brain strain" required. Purely action driven.
3.0 to 3.5 stars
October 22, 2018
A car driving to fast, a tossed up rock cracks a head light, who would believe that such a minor incident could leave you and your family fighting for your life. I enjoyed this book immensely. I found it to be a compelling and intense read with a lot of suspenseful action. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 21, 2018
This is a gripping read that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Katy and Adam are driving home when their car is hit by another car. Adam goes after the other car to get insurance details, but gets more than he bargained for.
His family are then kidnapped and held hostage in a damp cellar by a group of people who seem to have other things on their mind.
There’s also a very distressed woman with them in the cellar and whilst Adam and his family got involved accidentally, there seems to be no chance of them getting away.
Events spiral out of control and when you think the dust has settled more happens to put the family in danger.
The last part of the story was a bit far fetched but I was still keen to know how it would all end.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Katy and Adam are driving home when their car is hit by another car. Adam goes after the other car to get insurance details, but gets more than he bargained for.
His family are then kidnapped and held hostage in a damp cellar by a group of people who seem to have other things on their mind.
There’s also a very distressed woman with them in the cellar and whilst Adam and his family got involved accidentally, there seems to be no chance of them getting away.
Events spiral out of control and when you think the dust has settled more happens to put the family in danger.
The last part of the story was a bit far fetched but I was still keen to know how it would all end.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 9, 2022
An extremely unlikely scenario, fast paced and as one character says ‘like a Liam Neeson movie’ - I can see it being on the big screen. I think the opening scene is implausible, although road rage can cause strange reactions , it sets the mood of the entire book. That said it was a good read but I probably will not read more by this author.
October 12, 2019
A thriller, based on Katy, Adam and their kids who, after a day out, find themselves involved in a road incident. Unfortunately for this family, it was a definite case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time as well as making wrong decisions on how to deal with it because this incident causes a chain reaction of rather extreme situations to unfold.
There are some unlikeable characters in this book and there's plenty of gore and darkness and I'm not sure I understood the logic of a lot of what Katy and Adam did, but it's a thriller!
The book is well-written with a varying pace at different stages of the story. The action was good and the suspense high. I'm not sure what I thought about the ending, but I did enjoy this story and found it to be a good read.
There are some unlikeable characters in this book and there's plenty of gore and darkness and I'm not sure I understood the logic of a lot of what Katy and Adam did, but it's a thriller!
The book is well-written with a varying pace at different stages of the story. The action was good and the suspense high. I'm not sure what I thought about the ending, but I did enjoy this story and found it to be a good read.
October 12, 2018
This book wasted no time getting right into the crux of the story. The middle section of the book felt a little dragged out with not a lot of substance. There was a story but it was hard to try and figure out what was happening, how it was all going to play out/where it was going and how all the players fit together. Towards the end it picked up again but it seemed a little far fetched for what was supposed to be 'real life'. It sucked me in but it didn't keep my attention as much as I would have liked.
October 27, 2018
Adam,Katy and their two young children Freya and Dylan are returning home after a fun packed family outing when a speeding car cuts them up at a junction,nearly causing them to crash.Like anyone would,well if your a short tempered moron that is,Adam decides to chase after the speeding car. A stupid,reckless decision that culminates in Adam seeing something that he shouldn't,a confrontation with a gang of ruthless men who just happen to be packing guns and Adam and his family being kidnapped.
As soon as you start this book the reader is launched into a thrilling,action packed thriller. To begin with I was totally enthralled by the intense,gripping,chilling story that had me glued to my comfy chair. I felt so much fear and anxiety for the safety and lives of Katy and her two children. Ok, maybe the part where Katy was allowed to take Dylan to his friends birthday party was a bit unrealistic but who cares,it's called fiction for a reason. So I was absolutely loving this book and then the story changed direction,the pace slowed down and I found I wasn't enjoying it as much. The pace and action did pick up towards the end of the story but by then my enthusiasm had waned and I found I wasn't as gripped by the story as I was earlier in the book. I really didn't like Holly,she was a really annoying and irritating character and I most definitely didn't like Adam. My favourite characters were Katy,Zoe,Freya,Dylan and DI Branning. As readers have come to expect with Tom Bale`s books, the bad guys were evil,sinister individuals.
Quite a number of the chapters ended on cliff hangers,the story did contain some unexpected twists and turns,untrustworthy,unreliable characters and some truly,intense moments. Although I was slightly disappointed with this story that wont stop me from reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
As soon as you start this book the reader is launched into a thrilling,action packed thriller. To begin with I was totally enthralled by the intense,gripping,chilling story that had me glued to my comfy chair. I felt so much fear and anxiety for the safety and lives of Katy and her two children. Ok, maybe the part where Katy was allowed to take Dylan to his friends birthday party was a bit unrealistic but who cares,it's called fiction for a reason. So I was absolutely loving this book and then the story changed direction,the pace slowed down and I found I wasn't enjoying it as much. The pace and action did pick up towards the end of the story but by then my enthusiasm had waned and I found I wasn't as gripped by the story as I was earlier in the book. I really didn't like Holly,she was a really annoying and irritating character and I most definitely didn't like Adam. My favourite characters were Katy,Zoe,Freya,Dylan and DI Branning. As readers have come to expect with Tom Bale`s books, the bad guys were evil,sinister individuals.
Quite a number of the chapters ended on cliff hangers,the story did contain some unexpected twists and turns,untrustworthy,unreliable characters and some truly,intense moments. Although I was slightly disappointed with this story that wont stop me from reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
October 9, 2018
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview ONE DARK NIGHT by Tom Bale.
A family is driving along the road after enjoying a great day together. Adam, his wife, Katy and their two kids are tired and on the way home when a car almost hits them. The husband, Adam, gets angry and follows the car to confront the driver. But all hell breaks lose when they stop - the husband hears a cry for help from the car from a woman in the back seat. Adam tries to make a quick getaway, but the men in the car overtake them and kidnap the family.
They are taken to a farmhouse where they are put in the basement with the woman in the car. How can this happen - they have just enjoyed a wonderful day, they were on their way home, and now they sit in a dark basement - prisoners.
Adam and Katy soon find out that the woman in the car, Carole, was taken from her home. Her husband was killed by these men. She claims to not know why she was taken, but soon they all discover that these men are dangerous. Adam and Katy's young children are frightened and cannot understand what is going on. While trying to make things somewhat normal for them, it is impossible to fathom that they are in this situation.
Adam and Katy meet with their captors - four men and an older woman who tell them they must go along with them because they have a plan that involves Carole and a ransome. They are told they will be released in a day or two, but Adam and Katy know that they have seen their faces.
Can they escape? Will they be released? Can they get out of this nightmare?
This is a rollercoaster ride and a good one. An ordinary family on an ordinary day wind up in a nightmare -= I loved this book.
Good writing and solid plot - Recommend.
A family is driving along the road after enjoying a great day together. Adam, his wife, Katy and their two kids are tired and on the way home when a car almost hits them. The husband, Adam, gets angry and follows the car to confront the driver. But all hell breaks lose when they stop - the husband hears a cry for help from the car from a woman in the back seat. Adam tries to make a quick getaway, but the men in the car overtake them and kidnap the family.
They are taken to a farmhouse where they are put in the basement with the woman in the car. How can this happen - they have just enjoyed a wonderful day, they were on their way home, and now they sit in a dark basement - prisoners.
Adam and Katy soon find out that the woman in the car, Carole, was taken from her home. Her husband was killed by these men. She claims to not know why she was taken, but soon they all discover that these men are dangerous. Adam and Katy's young children are frightened and cannot understand what is going on. While trying to make things somewhat normal for them, it is impossible to fathom that they are in this situation.
Adam and Katy meet with their captors - four men and an older woman who tell them they must go along with them because they have a plan that involves Carole and a ransome. They are told they will be released in a day or two, but Adam and Katy know that they have seen their faces.
Can they escape? Will they be released? Can they get out of this nightmare?
This is a rollercoaster ride and a good one. An ordinary family on an ordinary day wind up in a nightmare -= I loved this book.
Good writing and solid plot - Recommend.
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