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Darkness Comes
Ted has been many things…
…selfish, greedy, and even a murderer.
How will he survive judgment day?
Ted’s in a hotel room, with a woman named Bella, in the Canary Islands. He’s moments from death. In retrospect, he’d made it to the end and never paid for the drug dealing, gun running, or even the people he’s killed.
Let the trial begin.
St. Peter said, “It doesn’t look good.”
This other world, one we think of as the afterlife, it isn’t as advertised. There is a God, but this Deity isn’t the God people imagine. Ted’s judgment day will peel back the layers of his life. Is there redemption to be found?
Will the ruling be Heaven or Hell? Or is there something else?
Before they can begin, Ted needs an advocate. After a lifetime of deceit, will anyone stand for him?
You’ll love this clever look at a life, because what we see on the surface is often only a shade of the truth.
Get it now.
…selfish, greedy, and even a murderer.
How will he survive judgment day?
Ted’s in a hotel room, with a woman named Bella, in the Canary Islands. He’s moments from death. In retrospect, he’d made it to the end and never paid for the drug dealing, gun running, or even the people he’s killed.
Let the trial begin.
St. Peter said, “It doesn’t look good.”
This other world, one we think of as the afterlife, it isn’t as advertised. There is a God, but this Deity isn’t the God people imagine. Ted’s judgment day will peel back the layers of his life. Is there redemption to be found?
Will the ruling be Heaven or Hell? Or is there something else?
Before they can begin, Ted needs an advocate. After a lifetime of deceit, will anyone stand for him?
You’ll love this clever look at a life, because what we see on the surface is often only a shade of the truth.
Get it now.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2020
10 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
John Lynch
214 books18 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 20, 2020
What a fascinating read this book turned out to be!
Ted appears to have reached the end of his allotted time on the earth, when Judgement Day comes calling while he is engaged in a strenuous amorous adventure with a much younger woman, during his holiday in The Canaries.
The time has arrived for Ted's life to be judged and the decision to be made about where his soul will spend eternity, and since he has lived a less than innocent life things are not looking good.
Ted's trial takes the form of a cross between This Is Your Life and a game show, as episodes from his past are displayed on a huge television screen for the jury and audience to see, and pass judgement on. These snatches of Ted's life almost always seem to revolve round the women in his life, the decisions he has made in rspect of his relationships and the resulting fall-out.
But Ted is not friendless in this surreal and frightening environment, because he has been appointed an advocate to plead his case by St Peter - someone very close to him in the past, who is free to cast a different light on what at first appears to be an open and shut case, by bringing up examples of Ted's life which have shown him to be a worthy human being.
Ted's life (or more accurately, death) hangs in the balance - and I promise you will be unable to put this book down until you know the outcome! But this is a spoiler free zone!
This book asks some interesting philosophical questions about how you decide whether someone's life tips the balance between a good or bad one, in the most entertaining of ways. Not to mention the poser of how much trauma in your young life can be seen as an influence on your future behaviour, and the nature of guilt. No one is wholly good or bad and even many of the World's acknowledged monsters had people who loved them: even the blackest of hearts may be capable of mercy and kindness at times. Can cases be made be made to mitigate the blame?
Of course, John Lynch's book holds with the religious theology that there will be a judging at the end of your life and a decision will be made about where your soul will spend eternity - Heaven or Hell - whether or not you believe this yourself. But at the same time, this book also turns this idea on its head. In his reality, humankind have some serious misconceptions about the nature of God and religion, and who has the right to judge whether someone has lived a good life or not. I am not a religious person, but found this very thought provoking, none-the-less. At the very least, this may lead you to question how the balance of your own life falls...and perhaps make amends, if necessary!
Ted appears to have reached the end of his allotted time on the earth, when Judgement Day comes calling while he is engaged in a strenuous amorous adventure with a much younger woman, during his holiday in The Canaries.
The time has arrived for Ted's life to be judged and the decision to be made about where his soul will spend eternity, and since he has lived a less than innocent life things are not looking good.
Ted's trial takes the form of a cross between This Is Your Life and a game show, as episodes from his past are displayed on a huge television screen for the jury and audience to see, and pass judgement on. These snatches of Ted's life almost always seem to revolve round the women in his life, the decisions he has made in rspect of his relationships and the resulting fall-out.
But Ted is not friendless in this surreal and frightening environment, because he has been appointed an advocate to plead his case by St Peter - someone very close to him in the past, who is free to cast a different light on what at first appears to be an open and shut case, by bringing up examples of Ted's life which have shown him to be a worthy human being.
Ted's life (or more accurately, death) hangs in the balance - and I promise you will be unable to put this book down until you know the outcome! But this is a spoiler free zone!
This book asks some interesting philosophical questions about how you decide whether someone's life tips the balance between a good or bad one, in the most entertaining of ways. Not to mention the poser of how much trauma in your young life can be seen as an influence on your future behaviour, and the nature of guilt. No one is wholly good or bad and even many of the World's acknowledged monsters had people who loved them: even the blackest of hearts may be capable of mercy and kindness at times. Can cases be made be made to mitigate the blame?
Of course, John Lynch's book holds with the religious theology that there will be a judging at the end of your life and a decision will be made about where your soul will spend eternity - Heaven or Hell - whether or not you believe this yourself. But at the same time, this book also turns this idea on its head. In his reality, humankind have some serious misconceptions about the nature of God and religion, and who has the right to judge whether someone has lived a good life or not. I am not a religious person, but found this very thought provoking, none-the-less. At the very least, this may lead you to question how the balance of your own life falls...and perhaps make amends, if necessary!
July 10, 2020
If you’re looking for a book that takes a common area of interest for many, then twists it in a truly unique way then this is the perfect read for you!
People often consider afterlife, what happens and where we go, but there are very few who tackle the concept in such a deliciously individual way.
I loved the way this was written, so engaging and impossible to put down! At first glance, it seems that this is a character that’s going to be wholly irredeemable, and yet... the reader may just find themselves rooting for him in many ways.
He hasn’t led an easy life, his decisions haven’t been particularly good, but he has made choices based on the hand he was dealt. The way his story is told, past situations shedding light on the question of his judgement, was wonderfully clever.
The reader is encouraged to look at the surface of our main character, to see the horrific things he has done, and you would think that at this point judgement is simple, he’s led an awful life, surely that’s enough? But instead the author pushes us to look past not only the surface actions, but the surface reasons too. They seem selfish, those of a person without regard for others, and yet... the more we learn about his life, while he’s forced to relive and explore himself, we see that this is a man doing the best with what he had.
I LOVE the fact that this is far from a simple story, and yet is wonderfully easy to engage with and enjoy. It tackles complex concepts with ease, making us think about how everyones life and choices are different. It also very cleverly shows that even knowing someones seeming reason for a choice, often the its a much more complex scenario that we can comprehend.
This is a marvel of a story, one that will sweep you up in a world that’s much more a tapestry of grey areas than sheer black and white. Every person lives their life in their own way, but without being in anothers head, we can never truly understand the how and why of a situation fully.
So, if you’re looking for a book that’s easy to read but full of much deeper considerations of the world, with characters that are much more than they first appear, then this is the book for you!
People often consider afterlife, what happens and where we go, but there are very few who tackle the concept in such a deliciously individual way.
I loved the way this was written, so engaging and impossible to put down! At first glance, it seems that this is a character that’s going to be wholly irredeemable, and yet... the reader may just find themselves rooting for him in many ways.
He hasn’t led an easy life, his decisions haven’t been particularly good, but he has made choices based on the hand he was dealt. The way his story is told, past situations shedding light on the question of his judgement, was wonderfully clever.
The reader is encouraged to look at the surface of our main character, to see the horrific things he has done, and you would think that at this point judgement is simple, he’s led an awful life, surely that’s enough? But instead the author pushes us to look past not only the surface actions, but the surface reasons too. They seem selfish, those of a person without regard for others, and yet... the more we learn about his life, while he’s forced to relive and explore himself, we see that this is a man doing the best with what he had.
I LOVE the fact that this is far from a simple story, and yet is wonderfully easy to engage with and enjoy. It tackles complex concepts with ease, making us think about how everyones life and choices are different. It also very cleverly shows that even knowing someones seeming reason for a choice, often the its a much more complex scenario that we can comprehend.
This is a marvel of a story, one that will sweep you up in a world that’s much more a tapestry of grey areas than sheer black and white. Every person lives their life in their own way, but without being in anothers head, we can never truly understand the how and why of a situation fully.
So, if you’re looking for a book that’s easy to read but full of much deeper considerations of the world, with characters that are much more than they first appear, then this is the book for you!
June 14, 2020
This is an intriguing and fascinating story. I like the way the Author approaches Heaven and Hell and judgement. I wanted to know what happened next, it had me captivated. There were some parts that were a tad slow but overall it was a great read
April 15, 2020
Whilst hovering on the verge of death, Ted Bailey's past life is examined in great detail. This is Judgement Day and all his many sins are about to be revisited. In his 73 years of life Ted has been a drug dealer, murderer, arms seller - you name it, but can his many crimes and misdeeds in some way be justified?
Having created a thoroughly unlikeable character, Lynch invites the reader to delve deeper - to go beyond easy, surface judgements. As we read on, we begin to understand and sympathise with Ted and understand his actions. The reader is lured into examining their own understanding of good and evil, to ponder some of ideas and assumptions that underpin religious beliefs and philosophies.
'Darkness Comes' is a clever, highly entertaining and skilfully written novel. Thoroughly recommended.
Having created a thoroughly unlikeable character, Lynch invites the reader to delve deeper - to go beyond easy, surface judgements. As we read on, we begin to understand and sympathise with Ted and understand his actions. The reader is lured into examining their own understanding of good and evil, to ponder some of ideas and assumptions that underpin religious beliefs and philosophies.
'Darkness Comes' is a clever, highly entertaining and skilfully written novel. Thoroughly recommended.
June 7, 2020
What an ingenious way of narrating somebody's life story. The concept worked very well. Ted Bailey has his life examined coutroom-style while having a Near Death Experience. Bad things have happened to him along with good things. He's done lots of things he shouldn't have as well as others that were above and beyond what he needed to, treated some people thoughtlessly and others with generosity - just like every other human in existence. It's a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I was kindly given a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems in return for my honest opinion.
December 31, 2020
A man is dying and is forced to face his past. Sounds grim but it was fairly light hearted. The main character is neither villain nor hero. He inhabits a gray area where his heart and his actions don't always align.
I have read many books by British authors with no problem. However many of the words and phrases used weren't comprehensible to me as an American reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
I have read many books by British authors with no problem. However many of the words and phrases used weren't comprehensible to me as an American reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
July 25, 2021
Gripping read.
Great start that gets you hooked. Very imaginative story and well written with appropriate dips into the past. Only one “gripe” that some of the conversations were a bit wordy but that did not deter me from keeping going. Very good book.
Great start that gets you hooked. Very imaginative story and well written with appropriate dips into the past. Only one “gripe” that some of the conversations were a bit wordy but that did not deter me from keeping going. Very good book.
February 16, 2020
I don’t think I’m smart enough to understand everything about John Lynch’s clever novel, Darkness Comes.
But, at the end of the day, I found this a highly entertaining read and thoroughly enjoyed this judgement-day-style trial of Ted Bailey’s life.
Ted is about as flawed a person as you could get –– womanizer, drug dealer, arms seller, murderer. Hardly a likeable character. But somehow the author evokes in us, sympathy for him. Perhaps we can all see some of ourselves in Ted?
In the end, I found myself fighting in Ted’s corner as –– now on the verge of death –– each part of his life is exposed, and judged. I found myself wanting him to win, whatever that means. Judged worthy of Heaven, or sent to Hell? Or perhaps neither, if they don’t exist?
The vast cast of characters –– people who have featured in Ted Bailey’s life –– is not, as I first imagined, difficult to follow, as each one is transient (like most of the people we meet in life), making an almost ethereal appearance, and I just enjoyed each fleeting moment with the different characters. Which, so “they” say, we should do in real life.
I felt the author was drawing parallels with all of us, through each character; that they represented a type of living individual to whom we can all relate.
I did wonder if Ted Bailey represented our human conscience. However that’s something for each reader to decide for him/herself.
Apart from being an extremely well-written novel, with its quirky storyline, very real, and flawed, characters, and easy-to-read, lyrical prose, I would highly recommend Darkness Comes as an entertaining, ingenious look at life and its many nuances.
But, at the end of the day, I found this a highly entertaining read and thoroughly enjoyed this judgement-day-style trial of Ted Bailey’s life.
Ted is about as flawed a person as you could get –– womanizer, drug dealer, arms seller, murderer. Hardly a likeable character. But somehow the author evokes in us, sympathy for him. Perhaps we can all see some of ourselves in Ted?
In the end, I found myself fighting in Ted’s corner as –– now on the verge of death –– each part of his life is exposed, and judged. I found myself wanting him to win, whatever that means. Judged worthy of Heaven, or sent to Hell? Or perhaps neither, if they don’t exist?
The vast cast of characters –– people who have featured in Ted Bailey’s life –– is not, as I first imagined, difficult to follow, as each one is transient (like most of the people we meet in life), making an almost ethereal appearance, and I just enjoyed each fleeting moment with the different characters. Which, so “they” say, we should do in real life.
I felt the author was drawing parallels with all of us, through each character; that they represented a type of living individual to whom we can all relate.
I did wonder if Ted Bailey represented our human conscience. However that’s something for each reader to decide for him/herself.
Apart from being an extremely well-written novel, with its quirky storyline, very real, and flawed, characters, and easy-to-read, lyrical prose, I would highly recommend Darkness Comes as an entertaining, ingenious look at life and its many nuances.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews