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Date Night
54 minutes
Death is a topic Bradford Douglas is intimately familiar with. The young attorney is on a crusade against capital punishment. He’s saved a number of death row inmates, but none of his cases has been as tough as the one he now faces: Henry Combs, a vicious serial killer, has only hours to live when Douglas is summoned for a Hail Mary attempt to have the man’s sentence commuted to life imprisonment.
As Douglas races to pursue whatever strategies he can think of, he finds his passion for justice giving way to something altogether different.
An obsession.
Death is a topic Bradford Douglas is intimately familiar with. The young attorney is on a crusade against capital punishment. He’s saved a number of death row inmates, but none of his cases has been as tough as the one he now faces: Henry Combs, a vicious serial killer, has only hours to live when Douglas is summoned for a Hail Mary attempt to have the man’s sentence commuted to life imprisonment.
As Douglas races to pursue whatever strategies he can think of, he finds his passion for justice giving way to something altogether different.
An obsession.
Audible Audio
First published April 22, 2021
5 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
513 books11.8k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 2, 2022
What the heck was that ending? OMG.😮
May 16, 2023
In this short Audible member’s freebie, a lawyer desperately tries to find a way of stopping the execution of a serial murderer. It’s atmospherically narrated and punchy enough to keep me entertained for the short time it took me to finish it. In truth, I found the ending a little disappointing, but I still thing it’s worth checking out if you’re already a fan of Deaver’s tales or have perhaps enjoyed one of Grisham’s similarly dramatic dramas.
October 1, 2023
Quick. Short. Pointed. 7 of 10 stars
July 6, 2021
macabre...very Deaver. I am on again off again with this author. I did crack a smile when they popped the trunk at the beginning of the story. The rest was meh'ish. This is part of a series of three stories from audible+ they are all on about the same par. See also The Intruder, Stay Tuned
February 24, 2023
This short story, featuring a lawyer meeting a murderer on death row, is another fine thriller from the mind of the great Jeffery Deaver.
January 22, 2025
Creepy! What an imagination!
August 3, 2023
A structurally excellent short story/narrative.
Another Audible Members freebie that is well worth the read. Deaver creates a perfect narrative (a masterclass of writing ) in a very short read (under an hour) - not an easy task! An excellent piece of writing to teach story arcs.
The ending has divided many, but given the format it is a great blindside.
Another Audible Members freebie that is well worth the read. Deaver creates a perfect narrative (a masterclass of writing ) in a very short read (under an hour) - not an easy task! An excellent piece of writing to teach story arcs.
The ending has divided many, but given the format it is a great blindside.
May 15, 2025
A short listen, it certainly packs a punch!
August 7, 2023
Low rating because this ended exactly how I predicted. I guess i am reading too many of Jeffrey Deaver's books, that nothing surprises me.
October 14, 2021
Well! I’ve landed on a few really good listening gems here included in audible’s membership. Nice quickie! I didn’t see that coming!
November 26, 2024
Loved the ending!
March 1, 2024
An interesting story engaging the listening mind into the plight of a man facing the death penalty.
Scope to touch upon the legal process and the moral issues around the subject.
Have always enjoyed treading the author’s words and my pleasure was maintained by this dramatic presentation.
I liked the narrator and the pace of delivery.
Interesting twist as often provided in these short stories but not obvious until the very end.
Perhaps not a book at bedtime, but as always Deaver never disappoints.
Scope to touch upon the legal process and the moral issues around the subject.
Have always enjoyed treading the author’s words and my pleasure was maintained by this dramatic presentation.
I liked the narrator and the pace of delivery.
Interesting twist as often provided in these short stories but not obvious until the very end.
Perhaps not a book at bedtime, but as always Deaver never disappoints.
April 29, 2021
This was good. The ending totally took me by surprise.
June 9, 2023
June 2023
Audiobook edition
54m (1.3x)
The funny thing is I listened to this one playing Disney Animal Crossing. Light and fluffy vs a lawyer trying to get his client off the death penalty. His client is a killer who refers to his kills as date night. The psychological element comes into it when the MC thinks he sees a victims ghost, before realising the truth. Its a short story of court cases and really, I couldn't dredge up ay sympathy for either the lawyer or the killer. The ending took an abrupt turn that was wtf. I couldn't tell if the MC was like that in the first place or if he and the killer had some sort of tag legacy moment.
Audiobook edition
54m (1.3x)
The funny thing is I listened to this one playing Disney Animal Crossing. Light and fluffy vs a lawyer trying to get his client off the death penalty. His client is a killer who refers to his kills as date night. The psychological element comes into it when the MC thinks he sees a victims ghost, before realising the truth. Its a short story of court cases and really, I couldn't dredge up ay sympathy for either the lawyer or the killer. The ending took an abrupt turn that was wtf. I couldn't tell if the MC was like that in the first place or if he and the killer had some sort of tag legacy moment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2021
For me, Jeffery Deaver is one of the best short story writers in the mystery/crime genre. His TWISTED collection is one of my favorite collections. This short DATE NIGHT is a good story with all Jeff Deaver's hallmarks of building to a twist ending. I enjoyed the story and the build up but the final payoff was a little too abrupt and needed a little more detail for it work as well as some of his other stories.
October 21, 2021
What the actual!!! Jeffery Deaver and David Harbour are such a dynamic duo. This book needed to be a full-length novel!
May 7, 2022
This was brilliant. I really enjoy Deaver's writing when he delves into the mind of a psychopath. I'm not sure what that says about me, but it's true! So this short story was entirely my cup of tea, and listening to it as an audiobook was even better because it adds a creepy component to it that you don't necessarily create yourself in reading a paperback.
The story looks at a young attorney, Bradford Douglas, who is working on a case in which the perpetrator he is protecting has been tagged with the death penalty. It explores the concept of the death penalty - with Bradford apparently disliking the serial killer he has found himself working with, but hating the death penalty more - and quickly explores some of the ethical questions many of us have behind that.
It has the usual twist that you would expect from Deaver and the sort of atmosphere that I most enjoy from his writing. It's still rushed, given that it is short there isn't really a way around that I suppose, but its one of his better novellas for sure.
The story looks at a young attorney, Bradford Douglas, who is working on a case in which the perpetrator he is protecting has been tagged with the death penalty. It explores the concept of the death penalty - with Bradford apparently disliking the serial killer he has found himself working with, but hating the death penalty more - and quickly explores some of the ethical questions many of us have behind that.
It has the usual twist that you would expect from Deaver and the sort of atmosphere that I most enjoy from his writing. It's still rushed, given that it is short there isn't really a way around that I suppose, but its one of his better novellas for sure.
August 28, 2022
Date Night by Jeffrey Deaver
54m narrated by David Harbour
Unsettling #1
Genre: Short Stories, Thriller, Suspense, Novella, Horror
Featuring: Lawyer
Rating as a movie: R
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts: Lol. I thought this was going to be a thriller involving parents, kids, and a sitter. I got none of that. I don't know what that was. I guess something but it didn't seem possible so I was just baffled by the ending and I'm still confused. Unless 🤔
Recommend to others?: I don't even know.
54m narrated by David Harbour
Unsettling #1
Genre: Short Stories, Thriller, Suspense, Novella, Horror
Featuring: Lawyer
Rating as a movie: R
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My thoughts: Lol. I thought this was going to be a thriller involving parents, kids, and a sitter. I got none of that. I don't know what that was. I guess something but it didn't seem possible so I was just baffled by the ending and I'm still confused. Unless 🤔
Recommend to others?: I don't even know.
September 14, 2021
I enjoyed this short book very much. Not a spoiler-so all I’ll say is there are a few small clues as to the ending. However if you are like me you will say…..no that can’t happen!
October 4, 2022
Mid but nice twist
March 5, 2023
Great ending!
March 21, 2023
These stars are mainly for David Harbour’s narrating but the story did surprise me.
Easy to listen to and intriguing!
~xo,
Rach
Easy to listen to and intriguing!
~xo,
Rach
November 1, 2025
A young lawyer was against capital punishment & tried to help a serial killer. This was a quick easy listen, was engaged throughout the story & couldn’t have ended any better to me.
November 15, 2021
A decent story, with quite good narration.
March 25, 2023
Is it possible for Deaver to write a short story WITHOUT a “twist” ending?
Not only could you see this one coming from a mile away, it made the story less interesting.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW:
Up until the last 30 seconds, this was a fascinating character study, an intricate examination of how people reconcile and live with being involved in a death penalty case. A developing relationship between two people on opposite sides of this issue, both of them highly moral, and attracted to one another - there’s a hell of a story in that.
Unfortunately, Jeffrey Deaver chose, yet again, to go for the cheap thrill of some sort of “psychic transference” and deliver the twist.
This was a disappointment.
Not only could you see this one coming from a mile away, it made the story less interesting.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW:
Up until the last 30 seconds, this was a fascinating character study, an intricate examination of how people reconcile and live with being involved in a death penalty case. A developing relationship between two people on opposite sides of this issue, both of them highly moral, and attracted to one another - there’s a hell of a story in that.
Unfortunately, Jeffrey Deaver chose, yet again, to go for the cheap thrill of some sort of “psychic transference” and deliver the twist.
This was a disappointment.
October 12, 2023
I really enjoyed the story and the premise, and with the short length of the audiobook, it’s action-driven with an expected ending. Wow!
The narration was great and this would actually make a great full-length novel.
Read more here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.wordpress...
The narration was great and this would actually make a great full-length novel.
Read more here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.wordpress...
April 30, 2021
A short story - an Audible original- that ends with not really a surprise, but rather an unsettling and twisted ending.
December 30, 2021
predictable, but well written and well narrated enough to follow along
August 5, 2024
I normally enjoy Jeffery Deaver novels, and thought this Audible short would be a good listen. But the narrative was stiff and dry. I had no buy-in to the story as I felt no connection with any of the characters.
The premise is of a young lawyer, Bradford Douglas, attempting to get a violent serial killer a reprieve from execution. Most of the avenues for this reprieve have been attempted and we find the lawyer making his last-ditch efforts in staying the execution in exchange for life in prison. The story explores whether someone who kills without regret deserves to live out their days in prison or face justice in the form of the death penalty. As the sister of a victim puts it to Douglas, "There are some things that shouldn't be allowed to exist in this life." While Douglas believes, "No one should ever take a life, it's a sin of the highest order."
While this story may invite someone to consider whether the death penalty is justice or murder, there is very little substance to the story beyond that. There is a lack of action, suspense or any challenges for the reader to match wits with the characters.
The ending was odd, in that there was no explanation for it. The reader is left with a gap of knowledge in why the events unfolded the way they did. Note, the ending wasn't unexpected, just not setup in a way that gave it any substance.
The premise is of a young lawyer, Bradford Douglas, attempting to get a violent serial killer a reprieve from execution. Most of the avenues for this reprieve have been attempted and we find the lawyer making his last-ditch efforts in staying the execution in exchange for life in prison. The story explores whether someone who kills without regret deserves to live out their days in prison or face justice in the form of the death penalty. As the sister of a victim puts it to Douglas, "There are some things that shouldn't be allowed to exist in this life." While Douglas believes, "No one should ever take a life, it's a sin of the highest order."
While this story may invite someone to consider whether the death penalty is justice or murder, there is very little substance to the story beyond that. There is a lack of action, suspense or any challenges for the reader to match wits with the characters.
The ending was odd, in that there was no explanation for it. The reader is left with a gap of knowledge in why the events unfolded the way they did. Note, the ending wasn't unexpected, just not setup in a way that gave it any substance.
March 12, 2023
I think this book had promise BUT I needed this explained a little better. I would be fine with the ending if I knew clearly where the author was going. Was it a supernatural thing and we’re in the same page or did I jump to a completely different conclusion then he meant for me?
I would have appreciated another 10 pages that just explained somethings more but maybe there are more books in the series and that’s when he explains it. I don’t know I just felt like I was left with too many questions.
Did the editor limit his pages and he couldn’t explain it or was the ambiguity intentional? Was he rushing to meet a deadline and knew he was doing a book two and thought he’d explain it to readers in the next book???
This would have easily been a 3-4 star read for me if it ended differently well not differently just less rushed and unresolved. It has potential and build up but ultimately I was left unsatisfied.
I would have appreciated another 10 pages that just explained somethings more but maybe there are more books in the series and that’s when he explains it. I don’t know I just felt like I was left with too many questions.
Did the editor limit his pages and he couldn’t explain it or was the ambiguity intentional? Was he rushing to meet a deadline and knew he was doing a book two and thought he’d explain it to readers in the next book???
This would have easily been a 3-4 star read for me if it ended differently well not differently just less rushed and unresolved. It has potential and build up but ultimately I was left unsatisfied.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews