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Fear of the Dark
An idyllic Scottish village...
A small team of rural Police Officers...
A stranger who won't talk...
Police Constable Tess Cameron loves her job in the coastal village of St Cyrus. With her Sergeant due for retirement, Tess has her sights set on making detective. Life is good.
When she arrests a violent stranger who refuses to reveal his identity, Tess suspects that all is not as it seems. Digging further into the background of the mysterious stranger, she finds that he is a disgraced former Special Forces soldier with a chequered past.
When the worst storm of winter hits the village and communications and electricity are cut, the severe weather is blamed. Tess however, feels that something more sinister may be responsible for their isolation.
Because the stranger has friends.
And they want him back.
Whatever it takes.
In the darkest night of winter, Tess and her fellow police officers find themselves facing an elite team of killers determined to rescue their leader. And Tess knows that if she is to survive the night, she has only one
Fight.
First Blood meets The Bill in this exciting new thriller from the author of Only the Dead.
A small team of rural Police Officers...
A stranger who won't talk...
Police Constable Tess Cameron loves her job in the coastal village of St Cyrus. With her Sergeant due for retirement, Tess has her sights set on making detective. Life is good.
When she arrests a violent stranger who refuses to reveal his identity, Tess suspects that all is not as it seems. Digging further into the background of the mysterious stranger, she finds that he is a disgraced former Special Forces soldier with a chequered past.
When the worst storm of winter hits the village and communications and electricity are cut, the severe weather is blamed. Tess however, feels that something more sinister may be responsible for their isolation.
Because the stranger has friends.
And they want him back.
Whatever it takes.
In the darkest night of winter, Tess and her fellow police officers find themselves facing an elite team of killers determined to rescue their leader. And Tess knows that if she is to survive the night, she has only one
Fight.
First Blood meets The Bill in this exciting new thriller from the author of Only the Dead.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2018
About the author
James E. Mack
7 books24 followersJames E Mack was a Commando in the late 1980’s before passing selection for a special operations unit. For the remainder of his military career, James operated against terrorist organisations around the globe, hunting down the masterminds and thwarting their attacks. Running agents, surveillance, and operating undercover, James was at the tactical forefront of the global war on terror at its peak. Having completed his full military service and survived shootings, bombings, double agents, and kidnap attempts, James was recruited in the private sector to continue providing his skills to UK and US international partners.
James specialised as a counter terrorism/counter insurgency advisor, assisting over 30 nations with their fight against violent extremist organisations. He also worked with conservation groups in West Africa, setting up counter wildlife poaching programs. In Mozambique, James played a key role in the emergency evacuation of thousands of oil and gas workers from a remote location that had come under terrorist attack. When Russia invaded Ukraine, he deployed to Ukraine and established a recovery and extraction operation for civilians fleeing the war.
James is the author of The Killing Agent and 6 other novels. His unique background and experiences bring a healthy dose of authenticity to his thrillers that his readers enjoy. The rights to his memoirs, ‘Hunter, Killer, Spy’ were bought by Pan Macmillan. The rights to James' future novels have been bought by Penguin Random House. James is represented by The Andrew Lownie Literary Agency in London.
James lives in Northern Scotland where he breaks out his Telemark skis when the white stuff falls or surfs the empty, cold waves of the North Sea.
James specialised as a counter terrorism/counter insurgency advisor, assisting over 30 nations with their fight against violent extremist organisations. He also worked with conservation groups in West Africa, setting up counter wildlife poaching programs. In Mozambique, James played a key role in the emergency evacuation of thousands of oil and gas workers from a remote location that had come under terrorist attack. When Russia invaded Ukraine, he deployed to Ukraine and established a recovery and extraction operation for civilians fleeing the war.
James is the author of The Killing Agent and 6 other novels. His unique background and experiences bring a healthy dose of authenticity to his thrillers that his readers enjoy. The rights to his memoirs, ‘Hunter, Killer, Spy’ were bought by Pan Macmillan. The rights to James' future novels have been bought by Penguin Random House. James is represented by The Andrew Lownie Literary Agency in London.
James lives in Northern Scotland where he breaks out his Telemark skis when the white stuff falls or surfs the empty, cold waves of the North Sea.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 9, 2020
Set in remote Scotland, this is an “Assault on Precinct 13” type story. When local plods arrest a mysterious ex-special forces type, highly trained individuals isolate the town and are prepared to kill anyone in their way of rescuing their man. Assault rifles and high tech ordinance against some country coppers? Should be no contest, shouldn’t it?
The author sets this up well with good characterisations and setting and then, following the arrest of an ex-soldier it all turns a bit nasty when his friends come looking. With a cut off village also hampered by snow the coppers are forced to hole up in their station and try to defend it.
The author gets everything right, good variation of characters, the main good guy turns out to be a female officer and she works really well, he gets the gentle village life down well too, before shattering the peace with violence.
A well written book, lots of action and you will devour it in one or two sittings.
The author sets this up well with good characterisations and setting and then, following the arrest of an ex-soldier it all turns a bit nasty when his friends come looking. With a cut off village also hampered by snow the coppers are forced to hole up in their station and try to defend it.
The author gets everything right, good variation of characters, the main good guy turns out to be a female officer and she works really well, he gets the gentle village life down well too, before shattering the peace with violence.
A well written book, lots of action and you will devour it in one or two sittings.
February 19, 2022
Third book I have read by James E Mack and, like the other 2, a brilliant book that kept me awake late into the night in order to finish - and out of innumerable authors over the years, there have only been a handful that make me do that! I have read a lot of similar genre books over the years and to be honest had felt a bit bored by the same old stuff - James books still feel fresh and not one dimensional like so many authors. On to start another of this authors books now. Easily head and shoulders above other authors in this genre.
February 4, 2021
Good hard storyline.
A good story starting out with the incompetence of a highly trained unit assaulting unnecessary a member of the public who strayed into their encampments with criminal intent. The resulting police investigation uncovers a planned assassination on a government minister which unravels as the arrested member and head of the unit is endeavoured to be freed by the remaining unit members. The assault on the Police station, weather conditions, Specialists Firearms Officers from another force marooned because of the weather coupled with previous military experience of the young women Police Constable combine to make a fast moving story of luck, bravery, death, sorrow, and achievements in the face of adversity. All in all a great story.
A good story starting out with the incompetence of a highly trained unit assaulting unnecessary a member of the public who strayed into their encampments with criminal intent. The resulting police investigation uncovers a planned assassination on a government minister which unravels as the arrested member and head of the unit is endeavoured to be freed by the remaining unit members. The assault on the Police station, weather conditions, Specialists Firearms Officers from another force marooned because of the weather coupled with previous military experience of the young women Police Constable combine to make a fast moving story of luck, bravery, death, sorrow, and achievements in the face of adversity. All in all a great story.
November 22, 2020
Magnificent - A Work Of Art. The
The mundane life at an isolated rural police station suddenly explodes into life when communications are disrupted in what seemed to be terrorist assault.
Extreme winter weather hampers police responses, as do acts of sabotage which close down their communications, as well as isolating them. A brutal assault results in deaths and injuries at the local police station, and it falls to a female police officer, with armed forces training to bring matters to a bloody conclusion.
Difficult to put down and we'll researched on the military aspect!
The mundane life at an isolated rural police station suddenly explodes into life when communications are disrupted in what seemed to be terrorist assault.
Extreme winter weather hampers police responses, as do acts of sabotage which close down their communications, as well as isolating them. A brutal assault results in deaths and injuries at the local police station, and it falls to a female police officer, with armed forces training to bring matters to a bloody conclusion.
Difficult to put down and we'll researched on the military aspect!
June 2, 2020
An excellent read, and I really enjoyed the whole story. I think we were given an insight into all of the characters, warts and all. I certainly found it very hard to put the book down and there were some clever twists and turns. The author, James Mack, demonstrated a very competent knowledge of the use of tactics on both side. I also thought the ending was well thought out as it left the door open for us to follow Tess into her new role. A big thank you to the author and a very well deserved 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 21, 2018
Nice setting, though there was too much detail – every move is listed - and there’s some odd use of language. It’s a bold move to set the first of a series in a tiny village like St. Cyrus. But I quite liked the characters. It’s not a whodunnit or a murder mystery, more of … not sure what it quite reminded me of, possibly an old Ealing comedy with more guns and fewer laughs. I enjoyed it, and the ending set up a promising series.
May 1, 2021
A brilliant read from start to finish
This book had me from the start with likeable characters you really root for as their put through the wringer. Like the blurb on the cover says "first blood meets the bill" is pretty much a perfect description of the book, with country police officers up against highly trained adversaries during a heavy snowfall. If you Love thrillers you owe it yourself to read this book.
This book had me from the start with likeable characters you really root for as their put through the wringer. Like the blurb on the cover says "first blood meets the bill" is pretty much a perfect description of the book, with country police officers up against highly trained adversaries during a heavy snowfall. If you Love thrillers you owe it yourself to read this book.
June 12, 2021
Yet another absolutely brilliant novel from James E Mack. A brilliant storyline full of excitement from beginning to end and well researched this has everything that you need in a thoroughly engrossing thriller. I’ve read a few of this authors books now and have really enjoyed them all. I hope that he can keep them coming!
August 24, 2020
Really well crafted story. Very descriptive and detailed, but not to the extent it becomes boring. Excellent.
Recommend you read this book and marvel at what our armed forces are expected to go through. A truly gripping book.
Recommend you read this book and marvel at what our armed forces are expected to go through. A truly gripping book.
April 26, 2021
Good teade
4 stars given always room for improvement. Kept me interested, not easy to predict what was coming next. This is the second of James's books I've read. Already downloaded the next. . ...
4 stars given always room for improvement. Kept me interested, not easy to predict what was coming next. This is the second of James's books I've read. Already downloaded the next. . ...
December 16, 2021
A Good Read
I am not normally drawn to police type novels but downloaded this by accident. Glad I did; a good story well told in my opinion. I look forward to meeting Tess Cameron and her colleagues in The Dark again
I am not normally drawn to police type novels but downloaded this by accident. Glad I did; a good story well told in my opinion. I look forward to meeting Tess Cameron and her colleagues in The Dark again
September 2, 2018
Fast Pace
Couldn't read it quick enough. Very fast pace story, also very atmospheric could feel the east coast biting winter weather.
Couldn't read it quick enough. Very fast pace story, also very atmospheric could feel the east coast biting winter weather.
Read
March 19, 2020Excellent read
Very well written showing great knowledge of special forces and police.I thoroughly enjoyed every page.Can,t wait to read his next.
Very well written showing great knowledge of special forces and police.I thoroughly enjoyed every page.Can,t wait to read his next.
September 23, 2020
Modern day female Dixon of Dock Green
Great book with a different twist to the story line, a real page turner. Good to have a quality female lead for a change. Well worth a read
Great book with a different twist to the story line, a real page turner. Good to have a quality female lead for a change. Well worth a read
October 18, 2020
Page Turner.
Page Turner. Read this in two days. Just couldn't put it away. Tense action and great characters. I can definitely recommend reading anything by this author.
Page Turner. Read this in two days. Just couldn't put it away. Tense action and great characters. I can definitely recommend reading anything by this author.
November 20, 2020
Kept you on edge reading
The book has interest from start to finish through all the twists and turns, not boring, right to the end
The book has interest from start to finish through all the twists and turns, not boring, right to the end
November 25, 2020
The best.
Really good story which once you start reading you wont put it down.Hurry up with a follow on make it soon.
Really good story which once you start reading you wont put it down.Hurry up with a follow on make it soon.
December 24, 2020
Recommended !
A good read, a little too obvious of the outcome , and a little far fetched to be believable. But will recommend it for its ability to keep you wanting to read more
A good read, a little too obvious of the outcome , and a little far fetched to be believable. But will recommend it for its ability to keep you wanting to read more
January 13, 2021
Action packed
Really enjoyed this story, a twist on the more usual Special Forces story, well worth a read and well recommended
Really enjoyed this story, a twist on the more usual Special Forces story, well worth a read and well recommended
March 20, 2022
Assault on a rural police station
July 9, 2022
Awesome
This looks like the start of a series and I can't wait to follow it! Plenty of action and clear some military knowledge in their.
This looks like the start of a series and I can't wait to follow it! Plenty of action and clear some military knowledge in their.
August 1, 2020
Really fast paced story and the author knows his stuff about police and special forces operations a good read enjoyed .
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews