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Darkling I Listen
Katherine Sutcliffe's novel is dark, gritty and intense, but the power of love shines through it all, even for Brandon Carlyle, who stopped believing in love a long time ago. A child TV star who went on to superstar status in movies as an adult, Brandon was lionized in Hollywood and worshiped by millions of women. When he took his life-on-the-edge existence too far, the Hollywood idol came crashing down, sexy bad-boy image and all. The jail sentence that followed was a wake-up call and, once he got out of the slammer, Brandon went back to his small-town roots. Now he's helping his beloved uncle, refusing to consider a comeback -- and wondering how the person stalking him (and sending him threatening love letters signed "Anticipating") has managed to follow him to Ticky Creek, Texas. That's when photographer Alyson James arrives on the scene and tempts Brandon to trust her, despite the fact she could make the anonymity he craves a thing of the past. With Alyson, Brandon can finally share the bitter secrets that shaped him...until she knows so much that they are both in danger of losing much more than their hearts. It may be hard to say which gives this book more sizzle, the compelling characters or the taut pacing, but it's definitely a winning combination.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Sutcliffe
42 books75 followersKatherine Sutcliffe was born an only child in East Texas. After working for a time at an oil company and as a headhunter for a computer personnel company, Sutcliffe decided in 1982 to quit her job and attempt to write a novel. Three years later she sold her first book, Desire and Surrender to Avon Books. She works eight hours a day, five to seven months a year. Sutcliffe also attempts to find a single CD that will provide inspiration during the writing of each book. In the past, she has used the soundtrack to Somewhere in Time and Kitarō's Silk Road.
In 1995 and 1996, Sutcliffe worked as the Consultant Head Writer for the soap operas As The World Turns and Another World. Sutcliffe was offered the job after Bill Graham, who searched for writers for Proctor and Gamble, mentioned to his wife that they wanted to refocus the soap opera stories on romance. His wife, who loved Sutcliffe's book, insisted that he contact her. During her time as a soap opera writer, she concentrated on developing the six-month story lines, which the breakdown writers would then develop into dialogue and individual scenes for the show. During this time frame, Sutcliffe also made a guest appearance on Another World, playing herself. She resigned from her position after the networks began to insist that she move to New York City to be more accessible.
Her historical romance, Notorious, sold out its first printing in a mere four days.
Sutcliffe lives near Dallas, Texas. She met her husband, an English geologist, while they worked for the same oil company. They have three children, Bryan, Rachel, and Lauren. Sutcliffe also raises and shows Arabian horses.
In 1995 and 1996, Sutcliffe worked as the Consultant Head Writer for the soap operas As The World Turns and Another World. Sutcliffe was offered the job after Bill Graham, who searched for writers for Proctor and Gamble, mentioned to his wife that they wanted to refocus the soap opera stories on romance. His wife, who loved Sutcliffe's book, insisted that he contact her. During her time as a soap opera writer, she concentrated on developing the six-month story lines, which the breakdown writers would then develop into dialogue and individual scenes for the show. During this time frame, Sutcliffe also made a guest appearance on Another World, playing herself. She resigned from her position after the networks began to insist that she move to New York City to be more accessible.
Her historical romance, Notorious, sold out its first printing in a mere four days.
Sutcliffe lives near Dallas, Texas. She met her husband, an English geologist, while they worked for the same oil company. They have three children, Bryan, Rachel, and Lauren. Sutcliffe also raises and shows Arabian horses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 5, 2021
Darkling I listen and for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death
Call’d him soft names in many a musèd rhyme
To take into the air my quiet breath.
~ John Keats
I appreciate imperfect characters in a well-written story: fragile souls with flaws. If you have read any book descriptions by Katherine Sutcliffe -I read Dream Fever some time ago and awarded it three stars- you know one or both of the main protagonists carry some form of trauma. *You need to read this with caution.*
Brandon Carlysle lost his young father to a tragic accident in his early childhood. His mother, if you could call her that, was simply horrible. She steered her young son into becoming a Hollywood sensation. And while riding the money train, she messed with his head and encouraged despicable behavior. Needless-to-say, I skimmed some parts. At eight years of age, he had been introduced to alcohol to numb his life. By 13 years old, he was an alcoholic. It was heartbreaking.
There were several villainous persons. By now you know one was the awful mother. The second had connections within Hollywood. And the third was a whackadoodle that was called Anticipating. He/she -I am not releasing the identity!- provided the twist-full of suspense.
Brandon was not an easy person to like but I understood why. When Alyson James approached him for his story- by then he was released from prison- he had been considering suicide. The man triggered conflict.
This heartrending romance read like a story written in the early 1990s but it wasn’t. Alyson had a big secret. The tension ‘Anticipating’ provided crumpled my prediction of who I thought the person was.
I wondered how many of Ms. Sutcliffe’s personal experiences with Hollywood affected this story. Prepare yourself to cleanse your mental palate after you are finished reading.
4 I thought I was going to dnf the story several times stars
I have been half in love with easeful Death
Call’d him soft names in many a musèd rhyme
To take into the air my quiet breath.
~ John Keats
I appreciate imperfect characters in a well-written story: fragile souls with flaws. If you have read any book descriptions by Katherine Sutcliffe -I read Dream Fever some time ago and awarded it three stars- you know one or both of the main protagonists carry some form of trauma. *You need to read this with caution.*
Brandon Carlysle lost his young father to a tragic accident in his early childhood. His mother, if you could call her that, was simply horrible. She steered her young son into becoming a Hollywood sensation. And while riding the money train, she messed with his head and encouraged despicable behavior. Needless-to-say, I skimmed some parts. At eight years of age, he had been introduced to alcohol to numb his life. By 13 years old, he was an alcoholic. It was heartbreaking.
There were several villainous persons. By now you know one was the awful mother. The second had connections within Hollywood. And the third was a whackadoodle that was called Anticipating. He/she -I am not releasing the identity!- provided the twist-full of suspense.
Brandon was not an easy person to like but I understood why. When Alyson James approached him for his story- by then he was released from prison- he had been considering suicide. The man triggered conflict.
This heartrending romance read like a story written in the early 1990s but it wasn’t. Alyson had a big secret. The tension ‘Anticipating’ provided crumpled my prediction of who I thought the person was.
I wondered how many of Ms. Sutcliffe’s personal experiences with Hollywood affected this story. Prepare yourself to cleanse your mental palate after you are finished reading.
4 I thought I was going to dnf the story several times stars
December 10, 2008
It really is a shame that author Katherine Sutcliffe retired after only writing 2 romantic suspense books (and numerous historical romances!). I've read both her romantic suspense books now, and both were excellent - though I did like Bad Moon Rising better. She had a real knack for telling a suspenseful story that draws the readers in but doesn't neglect the romance angle.
Darkling I Listen (title based on a Keats poem) is about a Hollywood actor, Brandon Carlyle, who has completely fallen from grace. Once the biggest, most wanted bad boy in Tinseltown, he's now an ex-con and a recovering alcoholic trying to figure out how to put his life back together. Hiding out in his hometown of Ticky Creek at his aunt and uncle's farm he's able to get some peace and quiet because no one else knows where he is. Except for the person who has been stalking him for years, he soon realizes when a new letter arrives. And except for journalist/photographer Alyson James who suddenly falls out of a tree on top of him one day. Brandon knows he should hate her, tell her to get out of his life, but he can't seem to stay away from her. And now his stalker's acts are getting worse and everyone around him is in danger. Just when he's starting to put his life right, it's all falling apart again.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the way that Sutcliffe wrote the character of Brandon. It would be easy for readers to think he's just another Hollywood jerk who tried to get away with too much and lost. But Sutcliffe turns him into a wonderful tragic hero. Reading about all he's gone through, his emotions, you really feel for the guy. More than once I wanted to give him a big hug. Instead of being a jack-ass bad boy, he's really just a nice guy who got caught up in a bad life where he was used and abused constantly. I great to really like his character.
Alyson, on the other hand, I can't say I ever really grew to like her very much. Not that I hated her or even disliked her. I just didn't like certain aspects of her character. She's really a tabloid writer, and I'm not a fan of those, so I was kind of prejudiced against her. Plus, she lies to Brandon big time for most of the story. I didn't particularly feel sorry for her when she got caught.
Romance wise...the story was okay. I thought the romance could have been a little better. I never really felt like Alyson and Brandon resolved their issues arising from Alyson's lies and her true profession. It kinda got swept under the rug and never dealt with. It left a bit of a whole in their relationship, for me. And I'm not a big fan of stories where one of the main characters (in the romantic pairing) totally lies to the other. It kills the whole trust thing. But the romance was still pretty good. Alyson and Brandon were a pretty sweet couple.
Lastly, the romantic suspense angle...it was well thought out and well written. I have to admit I had a pretty good idea who the antagonist was, though Sutcliffe threw a few surprises in. I thought she tried a little too hard with her red herring...it was too obvious so I zeroed in on the more subtle one. And I was right. But it was still an interesting story. And a sad one at times. Poor Brandon. The guy just couldn't catch a break!
Overall, a solid four-star book. I enjoyed reading it, and I disappointed that there aren't any other romantic suspense books by Sutcliffe for me to read. If there were, I'd definitely go find them. So if you're a fan of romantic suspense, I'd definitely recommend this book!
Darkling I Listen (title based on a Keats poem) is about a Hollywood actor, Brandon Carlyle, who has completely fallen from grace. Once the biggest, most wanted bad boy in Tinseltown, he's now an ex-con and a recovering alcoholic trying to figure out how to put his life back together. Hiding out in his hometown of Ticky Creek at his aunt and uncle's farm he's able to get some peace and quiet because no one else knows where he is. Except for the person who has been stalking him for years, he soon realizes when a new letter arrives. And except for journalist/photographer Alyson James who suddenly falls out of a tree on top of him one day. Brandon knows he should hate her, tell her to get out of his life, but he can't seem to stay away from her. And now his stalker's acts are getting worse and everyone around him is in danger. Just when he's starting to put his life right, it's all falling apart again.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the way that Sutcliffe wrote the character of Brandon. It would be easy for readers to think he's just another Hollywood jerk who tried to get away with too much and lost. But Sutcliffe turns him into a wonderful tragic hero. Reading about all he's gone through, his emotions, you really feel for the guy. More than once I wanted to give him a big hug. Instead of being a jack-ass bad boy, he's really just a nice guy who got caught up in a bad life where he was used and abused constantly. I great to really like his character.
Alyson, on the other hand, I can't say I ever really grew to like her very much. Not that I hated her or even disliked her. I just didn't like certain aspects of her character. She's really a tabloid writer, and I'm not a fan of those, so I was kind of prejudiced against her. Plus, she lies to Brandon big time for most of the story. I didn't particularly feel sorry for her when she got caught.
Romance wise...the story was okay. I thought the romance could have been a little better. I never really felt like Alyson and Brandon resolved their issues arising from Alyson's lies and her true profession. It kinda got swept under the rug and never dealt with. It left a bit of a whole in their relationship, for me. And I'm not a big fan of stories where one of the main characters (in the romantic pairing) totally lies to the other. It kills the whole trust thing. But the romance was still pretty good. Alyson and Brandon were a pretty sweet couple.
Lastly, the romantic suspense angle...it was well thought out and well written. I have to admit I had a pretty good idea who the antagonist was, though Sutcliffe threw a few surprises in. I thought she tried a little too hard with her red herring...it was too obvious so I zeroed in on the more subtle one. And I was right. But it was still an interesting story. And a sad one at times. Poor Brandon. The guy just couldn't catch a break!
Overall, a solid four-star book. I enjoyed reading it, and I disappointed that there aren't any other romantic suspense books by Sutcliffe for me to read. If there were, I'd definitely go find them. So if you're a fan of romantic suspense, I'd definitely recommend this book!
August 12, 2009
Whew! If you can handle a 16-hour rollercoaster ride of intense romantic suspense, then plug into this audiobook. Talk about tortured heroes! Brandon Carlyle makes Zsadist from the BDB and Zarek from the DH look like Brady boys. The gorgeous Hollywood icon experiences more than his fair share of BAAAAD luck, as the story begins shortly after his release from a 3yr prison stint for manslaughter. He semi-retires to his little Texas hometown for some much-needed R&R, where the townspeople do a good job of keeping his whereabouts a secret...from all but the feisty, camera-toting reporter, who, perched high in a tree clicking away...slips and falls right on top of Brandon's head. So begins their volatile relationship that is rife with misunderstandings, mistrust, angry men, jealous women and a "Play Misty for Me"-type stalker named "Anticipating". However, as awful as it seems, their relationship develops into a believable bond of love. The over-all story is more suspense than romance but the love scenes are well-developed & unhurried...lending credibility to the strength of the love between Brandon and Alyson. I would have given DIL 5* because it really is a well-executed piece of work, but I thought it was wayyyy too long. The story peaks at 13 hours, but the bad "guy" isn't done scaring the bejeebees out of you and continues to effectively do so for another 3 hours. Geez...I'm so out of my element here. Must.get.back.to.historicals.
October 24, 2016
Updated Mar 7. Wow. Impressive, emotional, and genuinely suspenseful. I think this author could have owned the romantic suspense genre if she had written more of these. Complex plotting, great chemistry between the leads and character growth for both of them. The suspense, once it got into gear, was relentless; especially after you learn that Audiobook benefits from a talented actress whose understated delivery helps keep the story credible even at its most audacious.
Sex scenes are grown-up erotic: challenging, imaginative and frank, with no coy euphemisms. One of these scenes, I had to listen to twice just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Yowsa!
Satisfying and highly recommended, especially if you like Sandra Brown but wish her heroes and heroines would do the deed more often, and maybe even devote a whole chapter to a single sex scene. Whatever you say, angsty movie-star/jailbird with anger issues, darling...I'm in love.
Earlier notes: Found this in the deep sub-basement archives of my Audible collection. I don't remember anything about this beyond a mistaken first impression that the title sounds bodice-rippery. It's not; this is one of Sutcliffe's rare (two?) contemporary romantic suspense novels. Good narrator. First chapter is an information dump with an annoying number of celebrity name-drops to establish hero as The Most Famous Movie Star, Like, Ever, before bad shit went down and he went to jail. He's compared to James Dean and Tom Cruise, only better looking and with an Oscar for his first feature film, and we're told his best pal was the late John F Kennedy Jr. We are additionally asked to believe that respectable talent agents won't take his phone calls now - because of course, Hollywood hates bad press,right? - so he's stuck with a bitchy agent whose idea of resurrecting our Academy Award-winning Adonis' acting career is to approach local commercial producers near the rural Texas town where he's licking his wounds at the family ranch.
The wounded Adonis has a stalker-by- mail who wants him dead, and is about to meet his first suspect, the woman paparazzi whose work helped ruin his life and who is photographing him from a tree in his driveway. I'm betting they'll fall in love.
Here goes.
Sex scenes are grown-up erotic: challenging, imaginative and frank, with no coy euphemisms. One of these scenes, I had to listen to twice just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Yowsa!
Satisfying and highly recommended, especially if you like Sandra Brown but wish her heroes and heroines would do the deed more often, and maybe even devote a whole chapter to a single sex scene. Whatever you say, angsty movie-star/jailbird with anger issues, darling...I'm in love.
Earlier notes: Found this in the deep sub-basement archives of my Audible collection. I don't remember anything about this beyond a mistaken first impression that the title sounds bodice-rippery. It's not; this is one of Sutcliffe's rare (two?) contemporary romantic suspense novels. Good narrator. First chapter is an information dump with an annoying number of celebrity name-drops to establish hero as The Most Famous Movie Star, Like, Ever, before bad shit went down and he went to jail. He's compared to James Dean and Tom Cruise, only better looking and with an Oscar for his first feature film, and we're told his best pal was the late John F Kennedy Jr. We are additionally asked to believe that respectable talent agents won't take his phone calls now - because of course, Hollywood hates bad press,right? - so he's stuck with a bitchy agent whose idea of resurrecting our Academy Award-winning Adonis' acting career is to approach local commercial producers near the rural Texas town where he's licking his wounds at the family ranch.
The wounded Adonis has a stalker-by- mail who wants him dead, and is about to meet his first suspect, the woman paparazzi whose work helped ruin his life and who is photographing him from a tree in his driveway. I'm betting they'll fall in love.
Here goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2011
Having first read Darkling I Listen when it was published in 2001, I was happily surprised to see it available in audio. I haven't read anything better in this genre since then and I rank Darkling as among the very, very best in romantic suspense. This is deeply moving story with all the right touches.
Carlyle is a wonderful hero, tragically wounded and isolated while he barely holds himself together for the sake of his needful family. Allison barrels into his life and forces him to come out of him self-imposed isolation and face unpleasant and dangerous forces bearing down on him. Together they face a stalker whose threats are escalating, a hostile sheriff who is too busy protecting his own behind to be of any help, Carlyle's pretty scary agent and even scarier mother. Through it all they manage to find love and trust, and none of that comes easily. This is a complex and compelling book with fully fleshed out characters -- even the secondary characters are carefully drawn. Dark and very sad at times, the HEA is well worth the torturous journey.
Katherine Stucliffe, where are you?
Carlyle is a wonderful hero, tragically wounded and isolated while he barely holds himself together for the sake of his needful family. Allison barrels into his life and forces him to come out of him self-imposed isolation and face unpleasant and dangerous forces bearing down on him. Together they face a stalker whose threats are escalating, a hostile sheriff who is too busy protecting his own behind to be of any help, Carlyle's pretty scary agent and even scarier mother. Through it all they manage to find love and trust, and none of that comes easily. This is a complex and compelling book with fully fleshed out characters -- even the secondary characters are carefully drawn. Dark and very sad at times, the HEA is well worth the torturous journey.
Katherine Stucliffe, where are you?
April 8, 2013
I am not sure I'd classfy DIL as a romance - but whether it is a romantic thriller/gothic or a romance with gothic/thriller undertones, I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Our hero is Brandon Carlyle, a washed-out actor and recovering alcoholic who's come to his small Texas hometown to try to put his life back together after his 3-year jail stint for manslaughter. Our heroine is Alyson James, a tabloid reporter who is looking for a scoop so as to ditch her sleazy tabloid for something grander - not that she has any ambitions writing for the New Yorker, more like People or US Weekly. She does track down her quarry only to get hopelessly tangled in his life. And of course they fall for each other. However what stands between them and a happily-ever-after is not the secret of her career or even Brandon's considerable demons, but a homicidal stalker called Anticipating, who is equal parts obsessed and violent - and soon people around Brandon begin to die.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! It's no secret I love wallowing in angst and dysfunction and this book had plenty. Also, I ended up really caring for the protagonists, which helps. Also helps that while Brandon has horrible things happen in his past, it's not ridiculously eye-rolling OTT overboard, but something I can see happening to a person. Oh, and Alyson is a total HBIC. I gotta love a book where the heroine saves the hero's butt not with the power of her love (though the book is quite romantic) or hot sex (though this book features possibly my favorite sex scene in a while) but with her detectiving skills and a gun. You go, girl!
If you want a romantic, sexy-as-hell, deliciously creepy read, go get this one! But keep all the lights on, if you are scaredy-cat like me.
Oh, and for some reason, though she doesn't look anything like her, I kept picturing Alyson as a grown-up Veronica Mars :)
Our hero is Brandon Carlyle, a washed-out actor and recovering alcoholic who's come to his small Texas hometown to try to put his life back together after his 3-year jail stint for manslaughter. Our heroine is Alyson James, a tabloid reporter who is looking for a scoop so as to ditch her sleazy tabloid for something grander - not that she has any ambitions writing for the New Yorker, more like People or US Weekly. She does track down her quarry only to get hopelessly tangled in his life. And of course they fall for each other. However what stands between them and a happily-ever-after is not the secret of her career or even Brandon's considerable demons, but a homicidal stalker called Anticipating, who is equal parts obsessed and violent - and soon people around Brandon begin to die.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! It's no secret I love wallowing in angst and dysfunction and this book had plenty. Also, I ended up really caring for the protagonists, which helps. Also helps that while Brandon has horrible things happen in his past, it's not ridiculously eye-rolling OTT overboard, but something I can see happening to a person. Oh, and Alyson is a total HBIC. I gotta love a book where the heroine saves the hero's butt not with the power of her love (though the book is quite romantic) or hot sex (though this book features possibly my favorite sex scene in a while) but with her detectiving skills and a gun. You go, girl!
If you want a romantic, sexy-as-hell, deliciously creepy read, go get this one! But keep all the lights on, if you are scaredy-cat like me.
Oh, and for some reason, though she doesn't look anything like her, I kept picturing Alyson as a grown-up Veronica Mars :)
October 28, 2015
Darkling I Listen by: Katherine Sutcliffe is That haunting tale of murder,suspense mayhem, & much much more.
That can Only be defined as a beautiful disaster.A storm Rising over flooding every corner of my mind,while listening I was gifted by the author 2experience listening pleasures. While the lovely story rapidly unfolds.hauntingly ghostly being told It's so hypnotic I’am still amazed at how it mesmerized me from beginning 2 happy End.
Ones Visual minds eye saw an array of colors come 2life magically B 4 my very eyes.
This Read is no doubt that desirous Diamond n the rough every Reader lust & craves.
I simply adore this audio Read.
This breath stealing, palm sweating heart pumping exciting Audio read . Darkling I Listen is..
One of the true Cult Classics to celebrate over & over again. Most fitting Suspense 4todays Reading enjoyment!!
A recipe 4
Everything skin crawling creepy ,Wild crazy fear of the unknown..yep it's things that go((bump)) n2 the Stormy DEAD DARK of nite. Halloween within a read!
Evilness BEWARE!
A bloody cloak wrapped n darkness gifted with cleansing powers of love covering a multitude of sin.
It's that
Edgar Allen Poe's poetic Gift: A historic page, a sample: imaginary images capture by sights also Sound sets the stage imagines of..:
The PIT and Pendulum with every lift...backwards & forward back. The slowly moving swift...blade tracks!!
Still it seeks 2thrills while the excitement awe builds ,while it whacks chops & hacks Ur very will n2 sever bloody pieces ! It numbs the senses It fantastic horribly & most delicious!
Shockingly more than enough..
This cloak of suspense /romance is Equally balanced with romance .I find much to my appease Pardon the pun, Ripped romping as heck, yeah fun!!
Darkling I listen ((audio)) is that timeless Hot spicy but seXy naughty Black Dress that never goes out of style so don't waste any time. add this little Piece 2 Ur repertoire collection.Don't miss out on some scary haunting creepy fun!
That can Only be defined as a beautiful disaster.A storm Rising over flooding every corner of my mind,while listening I was gifted by the author 2experience listening pleasures. While the lovely story rapidly unfolds.hauntingly ghostly being told It's so hypnotic I’am still amazed at how it mesmerized me from beginning 2 happy End.
Ones Visual minds eye saw an array of colors come 2life magically B 4 my very eyes.
This Read is no doubt that desirous Diamond n the rough every Reader lust & craves.
I simply adore this audio Read.
This breath stealing, palm sweating heart pumping exciting Audio read . Darkling I Listen is..
One of the true Cult Classics to celebrate over & over again. Most fitting Suspense 4todays Reading enjoyment!!
A recipe 4
Everything skin crawling creepy ,Wild crazy fear of the unknown..yep it's things that go((bump)) n2 the Stormy DEAD DARK of nite. Halloween within a read!
Evilness BEWARE!
A bloody cloak wrapped n darkness gifted with cleansing powers of love covering a multitude of sin.
It's that
Edgar Allen Poe's poetic Gift: A historic page, a sample: imaginary images capture by sights also Sound sets the stage imagines of..:
The PIT and Pendulum with every lift...backwards & forward back. The slowly moving swift...blade tracks!!
Still it seeks 2thrills while the excitement awe builds ,while it whacks chops & hacks Ur very will n2 sever bloody pieces ! It numbs the senses It fantastic horribly & most delicious!
Shockingly more than enough..
This cloak of suspense /romance is Equally balanced with romance .I find much to my appease Pardon the pun, Ripped romping as heck, yeah fun!!
Darkling I listen ((audio)) is that timeless Hot spicy but seXy naughty Black Dress that never goes out of style so don't waste any time. add this little Piece 2 Ur repertoire collection.Don't miss out on some scary haunting creepy fun!
February 22, 2011
This was one dark and angst read.. Gorgeous Hollywood actor, who is a recovering alcoholic, ex-con meets Alyson, tabloid writer. She leads him to believe that she is there to write is autobiography. This man has one troubled tortured past, starting from when he was 8-9 years old. I could not put this book down and it took me a while to figure out who the bad guy was. This book will go on my reread stack!
October 11, 2012
Started out great, but turned out to be a DNF after some annoying scenes. Could have been much better.
May 9, 2012
It's really 4.75 stars - loved the development of the characters, especially how Brandon's real nature was gradually revealed in comparison with his public persona. Another great aspect that the good guy characters were flawed, but still very likable so I felt invested in them to work out their problems. Something I really appreciated is that so much of the suspense of the story came from the mistakes the characters made. Alyson starts the book by doing something potentially really hurtful to Brandon and I really was on pins and needles wondering when it would come out and what Brandon would do.
The only thing than I wished was a little more of Brandon's point of view in the climactic moments. I realized wondering how he was doing was part of the suspense, but I think it would be been equally exciting to get inside his head for these pivotal moments.
The only thing than I wished was a little more of Brandon's point of view in the climactic moments. I realized wondering how he was doing was part of the suspense, but I think it would be been equally exciting to get inside his head for these pivotal moments.
August 5, 2011
This book was my introduction to romantic suspense. My first and most beloved. Such incredibly dynamic character and plot development... I was sucked into this genre with no hope for return.
May 3, 2019
I read this one years ago, when it first came out. I remember how much I liked it. And I can highly recommend it!
April 9, 2011
It's been years since I listened to Darkling I Listen but I still remember nearly every scene. The major hero star in hiding, the nosy reporter heroine (I had a hard time with her character in the beginning), the hero's supportive aunt and uncle, and the really, really bad guy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book in audio but had difficulty staying tuned in when the scenes turned violent and grotesque towards the end.
It's about time for a relisten. The only reason this one failed to reach the five star rating was the violence I mentioned. I'm a pansy when it comes to reading or listening to those types of scenes. But the rest of the book was pretty fantastic. I don't recall the narration other than I had no complaints at the time and listening to a bit of the book now, it sounds quite good.
It's about time for a relisten. The only reason this one failed to reach the five star rating was the violence I mentioned. I'm a pansy when it comes to reading or listening to those types of scenes. But the rest of the book was pretty fantastic. I don't recall the narration other than I had no complaints at the time and listening to a bit of the book now, it sounds quite good.
September 16, 2014
This book is amazing. I read it years ago, then listened to it on tape, then read it again, many times. I even created a workshop on how to write the perfect romantic suspense page-turner using excerpts from Darkling because this book is the perfect example of "go big or go home!" The hero is a bad boy actor who shows his sweet, vulnerable side when he talks to the one person who can't talk back--his aunt who is in a coma. The conflict between the hero and heroine is perfect because she works for a slimy tabloid and really wants to get a photo of the hero screwing up. There's loads of heat between the hero and heroine, and a crazy stalker who's after the hero! Now, isn't that an interesting twist?
August 25, 2010
Audiobook - Pretty good one at that !
A little predictable , but that did not take away from the story really . I had things figured out by the second disc ( and was right for once ) , but there is a twist to the predictable that I don't think anyone would have seen coming .
A little predictable , but that did not take away from the story really . I had things figured out by the second disc ( and was right for once ) , but there is a twist to the predictable that I don't think anyone would have seen coming .
September 21, 2010
This was sweet. Bad-boy movie star finds love and hope. Sutcliffe is a good writer. I like her.
April 29, 2015
One of the best romantic suspenses I've ever read. Hot love scenes also!
October 24, 2011
This audiobook was just awsome!!
November 5, 2023
Weak writing, superficial and shallow characters, walking cliches, predictability, misogyny, homophobia and SEVERE transphobia. I think Sutcliffe likes the horror movies "Psycho" and the Buffalo Bill one. She used some of those plot points in her story and clearly thinks she's sure clever. What a hateful plot device. Romantic suspense books with two straight, opposite sex leads clearly are not my thing. I loathe Enemies to Lovers, too, which this book is. There was absolutely no reason for this book to be nearly four hundred pages. NOTHING HAPPENS. This story could have been told in a hundred and fifty pages, tops. I'll generously note it could have been told in two hundred pages since Sutherland is so in love with her own words and each and every character she included, whose viewpoints she keeps wildly vacillating between. Please do not waste your time on this.
December 15, 2024
This was a quick read, with nothing original or groundbreaking. Sutcliffe crammed as many 90s clichés as she could into the story. We have a plucky tabloid reporter, who wants to make amends; a dangerous admirer, who is closer than you think; and a tortured movie star at his worst. The over-the-top prose and the seedy atmosphere create great noir romantic suspense.
So, why the two stars? Reading the misogynistic narrative was unbearable at times. It was triggering and upsetting; based on that, I cannot recommend this book. Only one female character is portrayed differently, and she's dying due to a stroke.
So, why the two stars? Reading the misogynistic narrative was unbearable at times. It was triggering and upsetting; based on that, I cannot recommend this book. Only one female character is portrayed differently, and she's dying due to a stroke.
August 23, 2017
I had it figured out by the middle of the book. The book was just too predictable for me. It's definitely more of a romance than a thriller read.
December 5, 2017
It was just crazy. A large cast of characters -- each who was either wholesome and earnest or batshit crazy -- propelled the impossibly beautiful and desirable protagonists through the plot.
Read
February 16, 2021good
September 7, 2021
Difficult read but decent story line
April 8, 2024
Great read, very intense, will appeal to fans of Sandra Brown and Linda Howard.
November 29, 2024
It was good.. just a really long book…nice story
Read
December 10, 2024DNF at 59% because I figured out the villain
March 6, 2025
Good suspense, characters engaging . Got a little winded toward the end.
August 13, 2010
I'm not sure why everyone thinks Brandon is at the top of the tortured hero charts, because, yes, what happened to him is awful, but compared to some of the other heroes i've read about, his past wasn't that shocking (though that didn't stop me from wanting to give him a hug and take away his pain).
I think there was too much of the secondary characters. Yes, I think the author was making an attempt to develop them, but...she didn't even really do that. There was one character who spent the whole book mentally ill and then at the end, bam, she was suddenly healthy and sane. It made no sense.
As for Brandon, I liked him but didn't find him original or special in any way. Everyone in the book kept saying Brandon had this horrible awful temper, but he never showed it. Maybe one time, but, still, it wasn't anything that big. And he was supposedly a psycho when drunk, yet the one time he actually gets drunk during the book, he's completely calm and rational, even nice. Contradictions much?
The issues of his past where barely brushed and discarded too quickly, not that I really WANTED more details, but I would have liked a little more of his mother, who only appeared at the very end for about two pages. After Brandon confesses his past to Aly, she say not one single word, literally. It could have been done better.
Aly was all right. I honestly can't say I liked her that much. Didn't hate her, didn't love her. She was annoying at times, but generally okay. Henry was supposedly, as Aly thought, the "ideal father," though I didn't think so...he once commented lightly that he used to beat Brandon with his belt, and unless he meant that figuratively, I don't see how he is "ideal."
There was too much of Aly. At one point toward the end, we go a good fifty pages without once encountering Brandon. And the whole end was drawn out for about 100 pages too long. The characters spent time making small talk while Brandon was in serious, life-threatening danger.
As for Anticipating...I knew who this person was during their very first scene. It was very obvious.
Aly seemed confused as a character. One second she is thinking how kind and tender and caring Brandon is toward his uncle and invalid aunt, then next she's describing him as a man with "no conscience" who "cares for no one but himself."
I'm not going to blame Aly for this. I blame Sutcliffe.
Brandon...self-centered w/ no conscience? Really? Then why does he hide all of his problems from his uncle b/c he's afraid of weakening the older man's health? WHy does he donate millions of dollars to charity? Why is he so kind and nice to his aunt and uncle? Why did he refrain from commiting suicide simply becase he knew it would hurt his uncle? If that's a man w/ no conscience who only cares for himself, then I'm a teapot.
Also, I don't think it was very nice of Aly to be waving beer in Brandon's face ALL NIGHT when he's a recovering alcoholic. She's kind of a bitch. Minus the "kind of."
Overall...it was an entertaining read, and I liked that, for once, the stalker was after the hero and not the heroine (that's never happened before). The heroine made an attempt to rescue the hero, but it really turned out to be the hero who rescued her in the end, which was annoying, because I thought it would be different at first. Pretty fast paced, worth reading, but...nothing I'd like to read again and again.
I think there was too much of the secondary characters. Yes, I think the author was making an attempt to develop them, but...she didn't even really do that. There was one character who spent the whole book mentally ill and then at the end, bam, she was suddenly healthy and sane. It made no sense.
As for Brandon, I liked him but didn't find him original or special in any way. Everyone in the book kept saying Brandon had this horrible awful temper, but he never showed it. Maybe one time, but, still, it wasn't anything that big. And he was supposedly a psycho when drunk, yet the one time he actually gets drunk during the book, he's completely calm and rational, even nice. Contradictions much?
The issues of his past where barely brushed and discarded too quickly, not that I really WANTED more details, but I would have liked a little more of his mother, who only appeared at the very end for about two pages. After Brandon confesses his past to Aly, she say not one single word, literally. It could have been done better.
Aly was all right. I honestly can't say I liked her that much. Didn't hate her, didn't love her. She was annoying at times, but generally okay. Henry was supposedly, as Aly thought, the "ideal father," though I didn't think so...he once commented lightly that he used to beat Brandon with his belt, and unless he meant that figuratively, I don't see how he is "ideal."
There was too much of Aly. At one point toward the end, we go a good fifty pages without once encountering Brandon. And the whole end was drawn out for about 100 pages too long. The characters spent time making small talk while Brandon was in serious, life-threatening danger.
As for Anticipating...I knew who this person was during their very first scene. It was very obvious.
Aly seemed confused as a character. One second she is thinking how kind and tender and caring Brandon is toward his uncle and invalid aunt, then next she's describing him as a man with "no conscience" who "cares for no one but himself."
I'm not going to blame Aly for this. I blame Sutcliffe.
Brandon...self-centered w/ no conscience? Really? Then why does he hide all of his problems from his uncle b/c he's afraid of weakening the older man's health? WHy does he donate millions of dollars to charity? Why is he so kind and nice to his aunt and uncle? Why did he refrain from commiting suicide simply becase he knew it would hurt his uncle? If that's a man w/ no conscience who only cares for himself, then I'm a teapot.
Also, I don't think it was very nice of Aly to be waving beer in Brandon's face ALL NIGHT when he's a recovering alcoholic. She's kind of a bitch. Minus the "kind of."
Overall...it was an entertaining read, and I liked that, for once, the stalker was after the hero and not the heroine (that's never happened before). The heroine made an attempt to rescue the hero, but it really turned out to be the hero who rescued her in the end, which was annoying, because I thought it would be different at first. Pretty fast paced, worth reading, but...nothing I'd like to read again and again.
July 7, 2010
An above average suspense/romance -- hard to put down. The narration was very good although she missed chances to lighten the mood by changing her inflection of exaggerated similes --- IMHO this would have taken the book to the level of Susan Elizabeth Phillips books. Still is was a well written mystery/suspense.
Still, I have to say that I have a problem with a Heroine who feels that the love of a good woman will cure alcoholism or the damage from a childhood of sexual abuse.
The sex scenes are good but get a grip, Girlfriend! If a guy has a violent streak at 35, he ain't changing.
Still, I have to say that I have a problem with a Heroine who feels that the love of a good woman will cure alcoholism or the damage from a childhood of sexual abuse.
The sex scenes are good but get a grip, Girlfriend! If a guy has a violent streak at 35, he ain't changing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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