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When the Dark Man Calls
Chicago radio psychologist Jean Kaiser is terrorized by telephone calls from a man convicted of the brutal murder of her parents twenty-five years earlier and now out on parole
237 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Stuart M. Kaminsky
159 books216 followersStuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.
Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.
Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.
His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.
Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.
Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.
Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.
Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.
His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.
Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.
Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 11, 2023
2,5*
Jean Kaiser and her daughter are facing a ghost from the past.
Jean works as a Chicago radio psychologist when she receives a mysterious call from someone from her past. What seems to be a harmless coincidence will soon escalate and will put her and her daughter in danger.
Even though this was a slow burning thriller with not much action or thrills to offer, it was an interesting enough story. It is like one of those simple straight to TV release thrillers that are a cozy guilty pleasure.
Jean Kaiser and her daughter are facing a ghost from the past.
Jean works as a Chicago radio psychologist when she receives a mysterious call from someone from her past. What seems to be a harmless coincidence will soon escalate and will put her and her daughter in danger.
Even though this was a slow burning thriller with not much action or thrills to offer, it was an interesting enough story. It is like one of those simple straight to TV release thrillers that are a cozy guilty pleasure.
October 2, 2018
Stalking is very much in the news these days and this story does show the anxiety it causes and the difficulty being able to do anything about it until something even more serious happens. Jean has been in the house when her parents were brutally murdered. Her memory was of the telephone ringing. Brought up by extended family she has a failed marriage, a 12 year old daughter and a career as a psychologist in the office and on local radio, when the phone rings again after the man convicted of the crime has been let out of the secure lock up.
Are relationships all that they are made out to be. Who is the real villain? A good read that goes at a quick pace and has an interesting twist. Not as spooky as expected.
A good 3 star novel.
Are relationships all that they are made out to be. Who is the real villain? A good read that goes at a quick pace and has an interesting twist. Not as spooky as expected.
A good 3 star novel.
August 19, 2018
A totally topical psych-thriller - an independent female survivor being stalked by the predator from her youth who brutally murdered her parents.
It’s so zeitgeist that you’d think it was written right now, but in fact it was first published back in 1983. Apart from the changes to technology, you’d never notice.
Great plotting, tight writing, a credible central character, stacks of twists and shocks, and a finale which keeps you on your toes until the final page.
8/10
There are many more reviews of crime / thrillers over at murdermayhemandmore.net
It’s so zeitgeist that you’d think it was written right now, but in fact it was first published back in 1983. Apart from the changes to technology, you’d never notice.
Great plotting, tight writing, a credible central character, stacks of twists and shocks, and a finale which keeps you on your toes until the final page.
8/10
There are many more reviews of crime / thrillers over at murdermayhemandmore.net
August 11, 2008
Creepy intro, and an excellent plot. No one does mystery like Kaminsky.
July 12, 2021
Not a bad little mystery.
November 23, 2021
Have you read anything by Stuart Kaminsky? If yes, then you will appreciate this stand alone novel for what it is-- a well crafted, suspenseful story of murder, survival and, after 25 years, confrontation with the killer. If you answered "no," then I suggest finding one of his many excellent series books (my personal favorite is the Abe Lieberman series) to introduce yourself. Although you certainly could begin with this one, I recommend becoming familiar with his broad band of styles and stories first.
This story begins in such a riveting fashion that the reader will feel as if he/she were lying next to the ten year old Jeanne who, frozen with fear, listened through her bedroom door the night her parents were murdered in their sleep. Jeannie awoke to hear the phone ringing, unanswered, only to discover the grisly scene in her parents' bedroom. From there, we jump ahead 25 years to find adult Jean, working as a therapist and call-in radio psychologist (although she lacks a doctorate), who receives a call from a listener that appears to be the man who murdered her parents. The caller makes veiled hints that suggest he's come back to finish what he started long ago. Creepy, right?
As I mentioned, I'm a big fan of Kaminsky's Abe Lieberman, a Jewish, near retirement detective who is at once sardonic and sympathetic, and has a penchant for pastrami sandwiches made at his brother's deli. Although When the Dark Man Calls is not a Lieberman book, I got a bonus when he's featured as the detective who helps Jean through her ordeal. Clearly, however, Jean is the focal point of the book, as she struggles to deal with the fear instilled by the stalking killer, while trying to protect her teen aged daughter and manage her relationship with her ex-husband, along with Roger, the station manager who has a serious crush on her. There are plenty of interactions to observe and Kaminsky does a wonderful job of keeping the twists coming, disguising the killer's identity until the final reveal.
All in all, this is a solid 3.5 star book, but elevated to a four star rating due to Kaminsky's skill at blending gritty crime with some well placed humor. It's not his very best, but as a stand alone, it is very well done and certainly an entertaining way to spend a few nights.
This story begins in such a riveting fashion that the reader will feel as if he/she were lying next to the ten year old Jeanne who, frozen with fear, listened through her bedroom door the night her parents were murdered in their sleep. Jeannie awoke to hear the phone ringing, unanswered, only to discover the grisly scene in her parents' bedroom. From there, we jump ahead 25 years to find adult Jean, working as a therapist and call-in radio psychologist (although she lacks a doctorate), who receives a call from a listener that appears to be the man who murdered her parents. The caller makes veiled hints that suggest he's come back to finish what he started long ago. Creepy, right?
As I mentioned, I'm a big fan of Kaminsky's Abe Lieberman, a Jewish, near retirement detective who is at once sardonic and sympathetic, and has a penchant for pastrami sandwiches made at his brother's deli. Although When the Dark Man Calls is not a Lieberman book, I got a bonus when he's featured as the detective who helps Jean through her ordeal. Clearly, however, Jean is the focal point of the book, as she struggles to deal with the fear instilled by the stalking killer, while trying to protect her teen aged daughter and manage her relationship with her ex-husband, along with Roger, the station manager who has a serious crush on her. There are plenty of interactions to observe and Kaminsky does a wonderful job of keeping the twists coming, disguising the killer's identity until the final reveal.
All in all, this is a solid 3.5 star book, but elevated to a four star rating due to Kaminsky's skill at blending gritty crime with some well placed humor. It's not his very best, but as a stand alone, it is very well done and certainly an entertaining way to spend a few nights.
September 23, 2023
I've read several of Kaminsky's novels, and he writes well. He offers good stories, well told. When the Dark Man Calls is another good one.
It starts with our protagonist, a fifteen-year-old girl, in bed at home in semi-rural North Carolina. She's lying, half-awake, trying to sleep, when she hears some strange noises and a cry or scream. The next morning she discovers her parents have been murdered, brutally, in their bed.
Flash forward twenty years, and our heroine is a clinical psychologist working at a free clinic in Chicago. She also has a part-time gig as an AM radio talk-show shrink, taking calls as much to entertain listeners as to help callers. That's when she gets the first call from what she has considered The Dark Man--the man who killed her parents.
Every novel is a balancing act between plot movement and supporting background. The readers attention is divided between what the story is and where it's going with the set-up for who the characters are, where they are, and why they're in whatever predicament they are. I think of it as character and color vs. plot, and Kaminsky generally balances them well.
When the Dark Man Calls is no exception. The characters are disclosed effectively and contribute to our understanding of where Kaminsky is taking the story. There's a good balance and an effective use of dialog with the emotions and motivations of the characters engaged in the story.
I won't disclose the plot, as I'll leave that to you. What I will say is that everything is not as it seems, and that always makes for a great read.
It starts with our protagonist, a fifteen-year-old girl, in bed at home in semi-rural North Carolina. She's lying, half-awake, trying to sleep, when she hears some strange noises and a cry or scream. The next morning she discovers her parents have been murdered, brutally, in their bed.
Flash forward twenty years, and our heroine is a clinical psychologist working at a free clinic in Chicago. She also has a part-time gig as an AM radio talk-show shrink, taking calls as much to entertain listeners as to help callers. That's when she gets the first call from what she has considered The Dark Man--the man who killed her parents.
Every novel is a balancing act between plot movement and supporting background. The readers attention is divided between what the story is and where it's going with the set-up for who the characters are, where they are, and why they're in whatever predicament they are. I think of it as character and color vs. plot, and Kaminsky generally balances them well.
When the Dark Man Calls is no exception. The characters are disclosed effectively and contribute to our understanding of where Kaminsky is taking the story. There's a good balance and an effective use of dialog with the emotions and motivations of the characters engaged in the story.
I won't disclose the plot, as I'll leave that to you. What I will say is that everything is not as it seems, and that always makes for a great read.
September 18, 2017
Fast moving
Great story line, The main "target" of the story is a middle aged woman with a young teenage daughter. She is a therapist, which like many I think have issues they have yet come to get a grip on fully. Hey, their human, besides my opinion is it makes SOME much better therapists. Well I have to give her 4 stars for how she was able to deal with those around her, neighbors, friends, coworkers, family and oh of course the murderer that killed her parents while she was in the bedroom across the hall...was the guy who was charged & put in prison for the double murder there to finish something? Was he now living in thle same city far from where she grew up purely by happenstance? Ah, and more questions, go ahead I know you want to...pickup the book and find out! Enjoy
Great story line, The main "target" of the story is a middle aged woman with a young teenage daughter. She is a therapist, which like many I think have issues they have yet come to get a grip on fully. Hey, their human, besides my opinion is it makes SOME much better therapists. Well I have to give her 4 stars for how she was able to deal with those around her, neighbors, friends, coworkers, family and oh of course the murderer that killed her parents while she was in the bedroom across the hall...was the guy who was charged & put in prison for the double murder there to finish something? Was he now living in thle same city far from where she grew up purely by happenstance? Ah, and more questions, go ahead I know you want to...pickup the book and find out! Enjoy
August 29, 2022
O autor da série Rostnikov, mas deixamos Moscovo do pós União Soviética e vamos para Chicago, EUA.
É um thriller, uma psicóloga com um programa de rádio e uma tragédia no passado é perseguida, num livro cheio de suspense.
Apresenta o detective Abe Lieberman, que tem a sua série própria de 10 livros. Tenho um fraquinho por detectives velhotes Judeus com um sentido de humor peculiar desde "O Exorcista" e lá vou eu fazer mais uma série.
É um thriller, uma psicóloga com um programa de rádio e uma tragédia no passado é perseguida, num livro cheio de suspense.
Apresenta o detective Abe Lieberman, que tem a sua série própria de 10 livros. Tenho um fraquinho por detectives velhotes Judeus com um sentido de humor peculiar desde "O Exorcista" e lá vou eu fazer mais uma série.
July 14, 2015
Meh. I'd give it 2.5 stars. Can't say it was bad, but it somewhat gave me a headache, and certainly hasn't made me want to pick up another Stuart Kaminsky book.
I have lived in Chicago all my life, and the author's depiction of Chicago and its residents was rather depressing. Many of those depicted were either crazy or a criminal. Everything was dirty and dingy and just awful.
In 1983, I was 3, so I don't quite recall what Chicago was like at that time, but I can only hope that it wasn't as grim. I would have understood if the author had just made it sound like certain areas were bad news, but Chicago in general was made out to be a cesspool. If you stay out of particular neighborhoods, Chicago is actually okay.
Race or ethnicity was mentioned at least 200 times in this book, and it only had 232 pages. Basically, if you were not "plain white," the author felt the need to point this out every single time.
The guy on the motorcycle was an Oriental. The guy crossing the street was a black guy. The woman with the big butt on the bus was a black woman. The kid at Burger King was a Latino. This person was Korean. That person was Mexican. He was black, she was Latina. Jew this, Jew that, Slavic this and Pole that.
All these racial/ethnic descriptions were so distracting, and it was just about every other page. I think this is fine to an extent, but you don't have to mention the ancestry of every minority/immigrant walking down the street.
I sometimes feel like authors do this because they want to get the point across that the mentioned character is not white and so on. How will you know if they don't say it?
I think that for the most part, they should allow each reader to use their imagination about what a non-essential character is or how they look.
This review should be about the actual book, but it's not because the distractions stuck with me more than the story did.
A bit more than halfway in, I figured out what was going on. When I was done, I shrugged my shoulders and reached for the next book.
I have lived in Chicago all my life, and the author's depiction of Chicago and its residents was rather depressing. Many of those depicted were either crazy or a criminal. Everything was dirty and dingy and just awful.
In 1983, I was 3, so I don't quite recall what Chicago was like at that time, but I can only hope that it wasn't as grim. I would have understood if the author had just made it sound like certain areas were bad news, but Chicago in general was made out to be a cesspool. If you stay out of particular neighborhoods, Chicago is actually okay.
Race or ethnicity was mentioned at least 200 times in this book, and it only had 232 pages. Basically, if you were not "plain white," the author felt the need to point this out every single time.
The guy on the motorcycle was an Oriental. The guy crossing the street was a black guy. The woman with the big butt on the bus was a black woman. The kid at Burger King was a Latino. This person was Korean. That person was Mexican. He was black, she was Latina. Jew this, Jew that, Slavic this and Pole that.
All these racial/ethnic descriptions were so distracting, and it was just about every other page. I think this is fine to an extent, but you don't have to mention the ancestry of every minority/immigrant walking down the street.
I sometimes feel like authors do this because they want to get the point across that the mentioned character is not white and so on. How will you know if they don't say it?
I think that for the most part, they should allow each reader to use their imagination about what a non-essential character is or how they look.
This review should be about the actual book, but it's not because the distractions stuck with me more than the story did.
A bit more than halfway in, I figured out what was going on. When I was done, I shrugged my shoulders and reached for the next book.
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July 3, 2009i hear its a good book so i need to find out for myself and tell you all how it was
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews