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Smoky Barrett #3
The Darker Side
Everyone has a secret they don’t dare tell anyone.
He’ll kill you for yours.
Cody McFadyen has shocked even the most jaded suspense fans with Shadow Man and The Face of Death. Now comes a thriller that outdoes them all, featuring a psychopath on a perverse crusade of murder. And the one woman who can stop him has a secret that will change her from the hunter to the hunted.…
A lie, a long-ago affair, a dark desire—everyone has secrets they take to the grave. No one knew that better than FBI special agent Smoky Barrett. But what secret was a very private young woman keeping that led to her very public murder? And what kind of killer was so driven and so brazenly daring that he’d take her life on a commercial airliner thirty thousand feet in midair, a killer so accomplished that he’d leave only a small souvenir behind?
These are the questions that bring Smoky and her hand-picked team of experienced manhunters from L.A. to the autumn chill of Washington, D.C., by order of the FBI director himself—and at the special request of a high-powered grieving D.C. mother.
As a mother, Smoky knows the pain of losing a child—it nearly killed her once before. As a cop with her own twisted past, she takes every murder personally, which is both her greatest strength and her only weakness. Brilliant, merciless, righteous, the killer Smoky is hunting this time is on his own personal mission, whose cost in innocent human lives he’s only begun to collect. For in his eyes no one is innocent; everyone harbors a secret sin, including Smoky Barrett.
Soon Smoky will have to face what she’s so carefully hidden even from her own team—and confront a flawless killer who knows her flaws with murderous intimacy.
From the Hardcover edition.
He’ll kill you for yours.
Cody McFadyen has shocked even the most jaded suspense fans with Shadow Man and The Face of Death. Now comes a thriller that outdoes them all, featuring a psychopath on a perverse crusade of murder. And the one woman who can stop him has a secret that will change her from the hunter to the hunted.…
A lie, a long-ago affair, a dark desire—everyone has secrets they take to the grave. No one knew that better than FBI special agent Smoky Barrett. But what secret was a very private young woman keeping that led to her very public murder? And what kind of killer was so driven and so brazenly daring that he’d take her life on a commercial airliner thirty thousand feet in midair, a killer so accomplished that he’d leave only a small souvenir behind?
These are the questions that bring Smoky and her hand-picked team of experienced manhunters from L.A. to the autumn chill of Washington, D.C., by order of the FBI director himself—and at the special request of a high-powered grieving D.C. mother.
As a mother, Smoky knows the pain of losing a child—it nearly killed her once before. As a cop with her own twisted past, she takes every murder personally, which is both her greatest strength and her only weakness. Brilliant, merciless, righteous, the killer Smoky is hunting this time is on his own personal mission, whose cost in innocent human lives he’s only begun to collect. For in his eyes no one is innocent; everyone harbors a secret sin, including Smoky Barrett.
Soon Smoky will have to face what she’s so carefully hidden even from her own team—and confront a flawless killer who knows her flaws with murderous intimacy.
From the Hardcover edition.
468 pages, ebook
First published September 30, 2008
201 people are currently reading
3182 people want to read
About the author
Cody McFadyen
36 books1,157 followersCody McFadyen was an international bestselling author of six thrillers. Five of those thrillers are centered around FBI special agent Smoky Barrett, who hunts serial killers. In 2011 his stand alone thriller Der Menschenmacher was published in Germany with no English translation. Before releasing book five in the Smoky Barrett series in 2016, McFadyen took four years off to care for his ailing parents. According to his German publisher he was the father of a daughter and lived in Southern California. Cody McFadyen passed away in May 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
April 7, 2017
10 stars for The Darker Side, book 3 in the brilliant Cody McFadyen Smoky Barrett series! The masterful characterization in this series is unmatched by that of any other crime fiction/thriller novel I have read.
This time FBI agent Smoky Barrett and her team take on a merciless zealot intent on murdering women with secret sins. The baddie has killed an impressive number of human beings over a span of many years. Why have these people been targeted, and how have their secrets been discovered? For what reason have they been killed? Where are their bodies? And why is the murderer, after all these years, now making noises like he wants to be caught?
There are major religious overtones to the story. All staunch Catholic readers best buckle your seatbelts before starting this book. Though Mr. McFadyen is known for his dark, dark, dark scenes, this is not as evident in this book as it was in books 1 and 2. Yes, there were 2 pages that I completely skipped, but this scene is forewarned enough to allow the reader to skim if desired. I also noted there was not the degree of suspense that was present in his previous novels. However, this book is chock full of intrigue and themes that make the reader think. These issues include secrets, sins, lies, revenge, homosexuality, transsexuality, religious beliefs, rage, guilt, regret, love, forgiveness, and redemption. A lot to chew on.
Mr. McFadyen’s plots are not perfect. There are occasional plot holes and omissions. Sometimes I wonder, “now how is that possible?” And at times the darkness is oh soooo dark. But it was early on with Mr. McFadyen’s books that I decided to just go with him and immerse myself in what he writes. I can easily forgive him for what might seem to be imperfections because of how he portrays his characters. He makes these people REAL. He takes us deep into the soul of the incredibly complex Smoky Barrett. We are given front row seats to her conflicted emotions and her deepest secrets. There is no psychobabble/psychoanalysis in these books; this is all pure subjective human emotion we see. This is an ongoing process--we learn more and more about these characters, especially Smoky, in each book.
I am also impressed with Mr. McFadyen’s ability to write simply yet profoundly. Small poignant moments led me to tear up at least 3 times while reading The Darker Side. I can’t overstate what I’m trying to say here. I can only liken these moments to a movie scene that I will always remember. The film is The Remains of the Day with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson playing characters fighting forbidden love. The scene in the library when their hands briefly brush against each other is the most romantic act I have ever viewed in a movie. Mr. McFadyen could have written that scene.
Mr. McFadyen really concentrates on Smoky in this novel. In the next book, I would love to see the author also delve into the inner thoughts of team member James. He is clearly a complicated man and I would like to know what drives him to be the way he is.
I enjoyed the return of Kirby, sharp shooter assassin, to this tale. With Kirby we see Mr. McFadyen’s ability to keep a character true to oneself. Kirby’s personality did not waver an inch despite the sharply contrasting situations she found herself in this time around.
Would I recommend Mr. McFadyen’s books? The Smoky Barrett series is my all time favorite series and Smoky has become my all time favorite protagonist. If you can handle the darkness, then by all means do not miss these novels. I strongly recommend they be read in order (starting with Shadow Man) for full appreciation of what Mr. McFadyen has created.
This time FBI agent Smoky Barrett and her team take on a merciless zealot intent on murdering women with secret sins. The baddie has killed an impressive number of human beings over a span of many years. Why have these people been targeted, and how have their secrets been discovered? For what reason have they been killed? Where are their bodies? And why is the murderer, after all these years, now making noises like he wants to be caught?
There are major religious overtones to the story. All staunch Catholic readers best buckle your seatbelts before starting this book. Though Mr. McFadyen is known for his dark, dark, dark scenes, this is not as evident in this book as it was in books 1 and 2. Yes, there were 2 pages that I completely skipped, but this scene is forewarned enough to allow the reader to skim if desired. I also noted there was not the degree of suspense that was present in his previous novels. However, this book is chock full of intrigue and themes that make the reader think. These issues include secrets, sins, lies, revenge, homosexuality, transsexuality, religious beliefs, rage, guilt, regret, love, forgiveness, and redemption. A lot to chew on.
Mr. McFadyen’s plots are not perfect. There are occasional plot holes and omissions. Sometimes I wonder, “now how is that possible?” And at times the darkness is oh soooo dark. But it was early on with Mr. McFadyen’s books that I decided to just go with him and immerse myself in what he writes. I can easily forgive him for what might seem to be imperfections because of how he portrays his characters. He makes these people REAL. He takes us deep into the soul of the incredibly complex Smoky Barrett. We are given front row seats to her conflicted emotions and her deepest secrets. There is no psychobabble/psychoanalysis in these books; this is all pure subjective human emotion we see. This is an ongoing process--we learn more and more about these characters, especially Smoky, in each book.
I am also impressed with Mr. McFadyen’s ability to write simply yet profoundly. Small poignant moments led me to tear up at least 3 times while reading The Darker Side. I can’t overstate what I’m trying to say here. I can only liken these moments to a movie scene that I will always remember. The film is The Remains of the Day with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson playing characters fighting forbidden love. The scene in the library when their hands briefly brush against each other is the most romantic act I have ever viewed in a movie. Mr. McFadyen could have written that scene.
Mr. McFadyen really concentrates on Smoky in this novel. In the next book, I would love to see the author also delve into the inner thoughts of team member James. He is clearly a complicated man and I would like to know what drives him to be the way he is.
I enjoyed the return of Kirby, sharp shooter assassin, to this tale. With Kirby we see Mr. McFadyen’s ability to keep a character true to oneself. Kirby’s personality did not waver an inch despite the sharply contrasting situations she found herself in this time around.
Would I recommend Mr. McFadyen’s books? The Smoky Barrett series is my all time favorite series and Smoky has become my all time favorite protagonist. If you can handle the darkness, then by all means do not miss these novels. I strongly recommend they be read in order (starting with Shadow Man) for full appreciation of what Mr. McFadyen has created.
April 10, 2017
What else but 5 stars!!
McFayden once again shines with his expressive and personal writing style that sucked me in right from page one. I mean this man can WRITE! His knowledge of the female heart and spirit is uncanny. I'm beginning to wonder if Cody is a pen name and there is a silent, strong woman behind these insightful and realistic feelings and emotions he so easily types out.
Strong characterization is McFayden's strength first and foremost, but he has always been able to come through with an intricate and well thought out plot--this was no exception. Was it perfect? No, as there were some plot holes my buddy read partner and I were able to uncover. Some were easy to sweep under the rug, others could have used a bit more explanation, but none were glaring enough to take anything away from this 5 star rating. Especially taking into account all the fine details McFayden did provide, based on some extensive research. The plot is unique and fresh, and the antagonist is not one that I have encountered before, nor will I soon forget.
This is a must read series for all crime/mystery and suspense junkies. While McFayden can be known for some violent themes, they are never gratuitous. He is the king at creating a mood, setting the stage, drawing the reader into the killers world. He has created characters I have grown to love, allowing me to get to know them more intricately with each book.
Until we meet again Smokey.....
McFayden once again shines with his expressive and personal writing style that sucked me in right from page one. I mean this man can WRITE! His knowledge of the female heart and spirit is uncanny. I'm beginning to wonder if Cody is a pen name and there is a silent, strong woman behind these insightful and realistic feelings and emotions he so easily types out.
Strong characterization is McFayden's strength first and foremost, but he has always been able to come through with an intricate and well thought out plot--this was no exception. Was it perfect? No, as there were some plot holes my buddy read partner and I were able to uncover. Some were easy to sweep under the rug, others could have used a bit more explanation, but none were glaring enough to take anything away from this 5 star rating. Especially taking into account all the fine details McFayden did provide, based on some extensive research. The plot is unique and fresh, and the antagonist is not one that I have encountered before, nor will I soon forget.
This is a must read series for all crime/mystery and suspense junkies. While McFayden can be known for some violent themes, they are never gratuitous. He is the king at creating a mood, setting the stage, drawing the reader into the killers world. He has created characters I have grown to love, allowing me to get to know them more intricately with each book.
Until we meet again Smokey.....
September 27, 2024
3,5 Sterne
Dieses Buch lässt mich etwas zwiegespalten zurück. Einerseits fand ich es sehr spannend, andererseits aber auch oftmals etwas zu drüber. Ich mag Thriller und Psychothriller, aber hier waren mir manche Szenen oder Beschreibungen einfach zu brutal und zu abartig. Das wirkte irgendwie schon nicht mehr authentisch, zumal auch gefühlt alle Charaktere irgendwie belastet waren.
Es war von allem etwas zu viel, trotzdem hat mich die Geschichte aber gefesselt. Ein gutes, aber schwieriges Buch für mich...
Dieses Buch lässt mich etwas zwiegespalten zurück. Einerseits fand ich es sehr spannend, andererseits aber auch oftmals etwas zu drüber. Ich mag Thriller und Psychothriller, aber hier waren mir manche Szenen oder Beschreibungen einfach zu brutal und zu abartig. Das wirkte irgendwie schon nicht mehr authentisch, zumal auch gefühlt alle Charaktere irgendwie belastet waren.
Es war von allem etwas zu viel, trotzdem hat mich die Geschichte aber gefesselt. Ein gutes, aber schwieriges Buch für mich...
March 14, 2017
“Dying is a lonely thing.”
Sort of gets your attention, doesn’t it? Cody McFadyen has a way of doing that in his writing.The Darker Side, his third Smoky Barrett book, got my attention in a different way from the first two. Instead of emotion, passion, violence, there is a kind of cadence to the language that made me sit up and take notice. “In the late hours, the ones when everyone’s alone, those secrets come knocking. Some knock hard and some knock soft, but whispering or screeching, they come.”
Smoky Barrett, FBI Agent extraordinaire, is summoned to Washington, D.C., by special request. With members of her team, she begins a private investigation of what could turn out to be a public nightmare – the adult child of a prominent figure has been murdered. It’s not just any murder – the scene of the crime is a jet airliner thousands of feet above the earth. How does this even happen? In the aftermath, few clues emerge, but they are significant – the murderer has killed before, and he has an agenda.
Smoky’s strength – besides the fact that she is a flawless shooter – is that she can feel the killer, almost know his mind. But this time, she seems to have a difficult time getting a bead on this guy. As he leads her back to LA with another murder and the promise of more to come, Smoky feels the answer is barely eluding her. With the help of her team – Alan, Callie, and James – she pins down a motive. But how is he choosing his victims, and how do they stop him?
As the blurb suggests, much of the story has to do with secrets. We learn much in The Darker Side about this team of crime busters and their loved ones that we didn’t know before. That is the best part of this book, in my opinion. My favorite scenes are ones where Smoky struggles with her beliefs and her past, and confesses things she has never revealed to anyone, not even to Matt. Other scenes involving victims were much more difficult to take in. Those who know me will immediately know which ones I mean. There is much less gory violence than in the previous books, but the level of psychosis is just as pronounced.
Published in 2008, the themes of tolerance, forgiveness, and religious fanaticism are still pertinent today. McFadyen doesn’t shy away from questions of sin, judgment, penitence, forgiveness. I was fully engaged for all but the last six or seven chapters. The revelation of the killer’s past somehow lessened the impact of the final showdown for me. I’m not sure how else to describe it – it simply felt like a letdown after this series of “inspired” killings. The storytelling and the character development far outweigh the negatives, however, and this is still a first-rate book.
4 stars
Sort of gets your attention, doesn’t it? Cody McFadyen has a way of doing that in his writing.The Darker Side, his third Smoky Barrett book, got my attention in a different way from the first two. Instead of emotion, passion, violence, there is a kind of cadence to the language that made me sit up and take notice. “In the late hours, the ones when everyone’s alone, those secrets come knocking. Some knock hard and some knock soft, but whispering or screeching, they come.”
Smoky Barrett, FBI Agent extraordinaire, is summoned to Washington, D.C., by special request. With members of her team, she begins a private investigation of what could turn out to be a public nightmare – the adult child of a prominent figure has been murdered. It’s not just any murder – the scene of the crime is a jet airliner thousands of feet above the earth. How does this even happen? In the aftermath, few clues emerge, but they are significant – the murderer has killed before, and he has an agenda.
Smoky’s strength – besides the fact that she is a flawless shooter – is that she can feel the killer, almost know his mind. But this time, she seems to have a difficult time getting a bead on this guy. As he leads her back to LA with another murder and the promise of more to come, Smoky feels the answer is barely eluding her. With the help of her team – Alan, Callie, and James – she pins down a motive. But how is he choosing his victims, and how do they stop him?
As the blurb suggests, much of the story has to do with secrets. We learn much in The Darker Side about this team of crime busters and their loved ones that we didn’t know before. That is the best part of this book, in my opinion. My favorite scenes are ones where Smoky struggles with her beliefs and her past, and confesses things she has never revealed to anyone, not even to Matt. Other scenes involving victims were much more difficult to take in. Those who know me will immediately know which ones I mean. There is much less gory violence than in the previous books, but the level of psychosis is just as pronounced.
Published in 2008, the themes of tolerance, forgiveness, and religious fanaticism are still pertinent today. McFadyen doesn’t shy away from questions of sin, judgment, penitence, forgiveness. I was fully engaged for all but the last six or seven chapters. The revelation of the killer’s past somehow lessened the impact of the final showdown for me. I’m not sure how else to describe it – it simply felt like a letdown after this series of “inspired” killings. The storytelling and the character development far outweigh the negatives, however, and this is still a first-rate book.
4 stars
January 20, 2016
This is the third book in the Smoky Barrett series, which I have been binge reading. I was not as emotionally involved in this book. Well, that's not exactly correct; I was feeling different emotions than I did with the first two books. I wondered whether I was becoming inured to what McFadyen is writing, but then he wrote a scene that was a sucker punch. Nope. Not inured.
This book delves deeper into the darkness of serial killers. We, who sit on the fringes of investigations or sit on juries, want to know why a killer kills. McFadyen explores an answer in this book using a religious zealot serial killer. This serial killer presents a threat to basic religious tenets, but is he truly misguided?
Smoky, Alan, Callie, and James begin to investigate a murder with a religious component. Then a second victim is found, and the case explodes from there. Personal revelations by some of the characters continue their growth, and Kirby from book two appears in this one as well. Everything is woven together to perfection.
I continue to be amazed at McFadyen's skill in writing such powerful, emotional, and introspective stories!
This book delves deeper into the darkness of serial killers. We, who sit on the fringes of investigations or sit on juries, want to know why a killer kills. McFadyen explores an answer in this book using a religious zealot serial killer. This serial killer presents a threat to basic religious tenets, but is he truly misguided?
Smoky, Alan, Callie, and James begin to investigate a murder with a religious component. Then a second victim is found, and the case explodes from there. Personal revelations by some of the characters continue their growth, and Kirby from book two appears in this one as well. Everything is woven together to perfection.
I continue to be amazed at McFadyen's skill in writing such powerful, emotional, and introspective stories!
November 6, 2020
Der bislang schwächste Band.
October 20, 2017
Auch der dritte Smoky Barrett Fall war super - Spannend und krank! Ich mag auch die persönlichen Aspekte von Smoky und ihrem Team - Ein guter Mix bei dem der Fall trotzdem nicht zu kurz kommt!
September 22, 2016
This is the third book in the Smoky Barrett series and continues a couple of years after The Face of Death. While I would suggest reading them in order for the character development, Cody McFadyen actually rehashes a lot of the details from the previous books to make this one work as a standalone, too.
This one had a different feel to the first two. I can't actually explain why exactly, but this one didn't grip me like the first two. I'm not sure whether it was just the primary focus on religion and the Catholic faith that left me disconnected, but something was missing here. For starters, I think it lacked suspense. While still rather unpleasant in parts, this one didn't feel as brutal and gory as the first two either.
Although this was the first one I listened to in English, I know that wasn't the issue here because this was actually better in English than the first two had been in German. I thought the audiobook narration by Joyce Bean was fantastic. The issue which annoyed me so much in the German version actually came across as endearing in this one, and I really, really like Callie now. I think Kirby is another entertaining character, as she injects some fun into the otherwise dark plot.
Overall, I still enjoyed this one, but it didn't have the impact the previous ones had. 3.5 stars.
Moving on to Abandoned, book 4.
This one had a different feel to the first two. I can't actually explain why exactly, but this one didn't grip me like the first two. I'm not sure whether it was just the primary focus on religion and the Catholic faith that left me disconnected, but something was missing here. For starters, I think it lacked suspense. While still rather unpleasant in parts, this one didn't feel as brutal and gory as the first two either.
Although this was the first one I listened to in English, I know that wasn't the issue here because this was actually better in English than the first two had been in German. I thought the audiobook narration by Joyce Bean was fantastic. The issue which annoyed me so much in the German version actually came across as endearing in this one, and I really, really like Callie now. I think Kirby is another entertaining character, as she injects some fun into the otherwise dark plot.
Overall, I still enjoyed this one, but it didn't have the impact the previous ones had. 3.5 stars.
Moving on to Abandoned, book 4.
August 5, 2016
So, we come to book three in the Smoky Barrett series and an absolute brilliant one. I didn't think they really could improve but this one really had me hooked from the very first page.
We cut to a couple of years after where the last book left and are hit by a transexual being murdered on a busy flight whilst up in the air in their seat!! Yikes!!! This one is out of Smoky's usual jurisdiction but her expertise is called upon and she flies out to Virginia with her team to investigate the crime scene. More bodies start to turn up and a link is developed between the different crimes. Rather than a straightforward whodunnit, this delves more into the human psyche, faith, religion, redemption, lies and secrets. McFadyen paints an interesting look over proceedings, how people twist their own beliefs to justify their own actions and what is really perceived as 'good' and 'bad'. I found it to be a totally absorbing and compelling read and really did struggle to put this one down in the early hours of the morning. The sheer weight of the book won and I actually fell asleep whilst reading!
Of all the books in the series, this is my favourite so far. It's insightful, hugely engaging with McFadyen's flair for brilliant storytelling. Though not as squeamish as previous works some aspects explored may not to be everyone's tastes and not to their palette. No problem for me however.
I am so glad I was introduced to this particular series by some good friends and heartily agree with them that this is indeed thriller writing at a really high level. Obviously I'm looking forward to the next instalment ...... just a smidgen anyways!!
We cut to a couple of years after where the last book left and are hit by a transexual being murdered on a busy flight whilst up in the air in their seat!! Yikes!!! This one is out of Smoky's usual jurisdiction but her expertise is called upon and she flies out to Virginia with her team to investigate the crime scene. More bodies start to turn up and a link is developed between the different crimes. Rather than a straightforward whodunnit, this delves more into the human psyche, faith, religion, redemption, lies and secrets. McFadyen paints an interesting look over proceedings, how people twist their own beliefs to justify their own actions and what is really perceived as 'good' and 'bad'. I found it to be a totally absorbing and compelling read and really did struggle to put this one down in the early hours of the morning. The sheer weight of the book won and I actually fell asleep whilst reading!
Of all the books in the series, this is my favourite so far. It's insightful, hugely engaging with McFadyen's flair for brilliant storytelling. Though not as squeamish as previous works some aspects explored may not to be everyone's tastes and not to their palette. No problem for me however.
I am so glad I was introduced to this particular series by some good friends and heartily agree with them that this is indeed thriller writing at a really high level. Obviously I'm looking forward to the next instalment ...... just a smidgen anyways!!
April 25, 2016
I did not like this one! Yuck!
May 2, 2016
Smokey and her team are called to Washington DC when a sadistc killer uses his Catholic faith as justification for a horrific killing spree. Parts of this book were very good but overall it was disjointed and not anywhere close to the writing caliber of the first two in the series. I sure hope the next one falls back into step. We are doing a buddy read and all of the people in the group had the same consensus but will also still be reading the next.
February 10, 2016
Whewww!!! What a ride this was. I know when Smokey Barrett climbs on the Dark Train that we are always in for a heck of a ride. Smokey is the head of an elite unit of the LA FBI that hunt nothing but serial killers. Luckily her and her group are very good at what they do. Smokey's team gets a call from the head of the FBI about a Texas Senator's daughter that was found dead on a plane. The only problem is, she is really a he. Smokey is confused at first as to why her team is brought in, but when your boss says jump...you jump. But soon Smokey realizes that this wasn't the only the murder and that there may be 150 unsolved murders. So Smokey climbs on the Dark Train to catch a killer who wants you to confess your deepest, darkest secret/Sin and then after you confess your sin he wants to dispatch you to the right hand of God.
Smokey's world is intense and tends to get you right into the gut. You finish gasping for breath and then run around the house checking to make sure that all your window and doors are locked. This particular book isn't physically as hard on Smokey, but hard mentally as in the end she herself has to reveal a horrible secret of her own in order to move on three years after the death of her beloved husband and daughter. I love CM's writing and Smokey is a phenominal, strong character. However, I just can't read her books back to back, they are just too intense and leave me an emotional wreck for awhile, but in a good scary way. This book can be read as a standalone as CM does a good job of bringing the character's histories forward.
Smokey's world is intense and tends to get you right into the gut. You finish gasping for breath and then run around the house checking to make sure that all your window and doors are locked. This particular book isn't physically as hard on Smokey, but hard mentally as in the end she herself has to reveal a horrible secret of her own in order to move on three years after the death of her beloved husband and daughter. I love CM's writing and Smokey is a phenominal, strong character. However, I just can't read her books back to back, they are just too intense and leave me an emotional wreck for awhile, but in a good scary way. This book can be read as a standalone as CM does a good job of bringing the character's histories forward.
January 1, 2015
Awesome book in this fantastic series. I just can't get enough. McFadyen knows his stuff. Looking forward to reading more of his in this new year.
March 27, 2023
Cody is a favourite author of mine and this is a top tier serial killer thriller series. Smoky Barrett is easily one of my favourite female protagonists I've ever read about.
Writing: 5/5 - Plot: 5/5 - Ending: 5/5
I cannot get enough of how he writes, almost poetic at times with quotes lingering in my mind days after finishing. But it is also very graphic, very intense and very much not for the faint of heart. Like seriously not for the faint of heart. If this was published now, I don't think people would appreciate it as much.... it is quite shocking.
The plot is hard to discuss but was tough to read at times, again, if this was pub'd today, I seriously wonder how people would react or think to some of the topics discussed in this one. Nonetheless, I loved being on another fast-paced journey as Smoky once again goes up depraved evil.
The ending was another chill-inducing, dear-god, kind of reveal moment and I loved it.
TW:
All
Writing: 5/5 - Plot: 5/5 - Ending: 5/5
I cannot get enough of how he writes, almost poetic at times with quotes lingering in my mind days after finishing. But it is also very graphic, very intense and very much not for the faint of heart. Like seriously not for the faint of heart. If this was published now, I don't think people would appreciate it as much.... it is quite shocking.
The plot is hard to discuss but was tough to read at times, again, if this was pub'd today, I seriously wonder how people would react or think to some of the topics discussed in this one. Nonetheless, I loved being on another fast-paced journey as Smoky once again goes up depraved evil.
The ending was another chill-inducing, dear-god, kind of reveal moment and I loved it.
TW:
All
November 18, 2020
Като оставим на страна криминалния сюжет, хареса ми това, че книгата задава много откровени Християнски въпроси, които всеки един невярващ би си задал и би опитал да намери своите отговори за себе си. За разлика от други други автори, които открито заклеймяват вярата и се опитват да я очернят, без дори да си задават въпроса защо го правят, тук се прокрадва едно религиозно търсене от страна, и на автора, и на героя му, което според мен би трябвало да бъде по-правилният подход.
Иначе книгата е приятна за четене, на моменти дори шокираща, но предполагам, че заради темата, която засяга, не би могло и да бъде и другояче.
Иначе книгата е приятна за четене, на моменти дори шокираща, но предполагам, че заради темата, която засяга, не би могло и да бъде и другояче.
April 25, 2011
Meine Meinung:
Diesmal war ich nicht ganz so angetan von diesem Buch, es lies sich gut und leicht lesen wie alle Bücher von Cody McFadyen, aber der Spannungsbogen hat sich nicht so aufgebaut. Desweiteren fand ich, dass dieses Buch zu sehr "kirchenbelastet" war. Serienmörder in dieser Form gibt es schon in zu vielen anderen Thrillern. Also, bitte ein neuer Versuch Cody...
Diesmal war ich nicht ganz so angetan von diesem Buch, es lies sich gut und leicht lesen wie alle Bücher von Cody McFadyen, aber der Spannungsbogen hat sich nicht so aufgebaut. Desweiteren fand ich, dass dieses Buch zu sehr "kirchenbelastet" war. Serienmörder in dieser Form gibt es schon in zu vielen anderen Thrillern. Also, bitte ein neuer Versuch Cody...
December 31, 2018
Smoky Barrett, wie gewohnt, richtig gut. Der intensive Schreibstil fesselt und die Story schockiert.
Fanatischer Glaube, Geheimnisse, Sünden, Lügen, Rache, Schuld, Vergebung - alles dabei.
Die transsexuelle Tochter eines prominenten Paares wird während eines Fluges getötet und der Täter verschwindet spurlos. Wie passiert sowas? Dann tauchen brutale Videos von Hinrichtungen auf und schnell wird klar, dass es sich um einen fleißigen Serienkiller handelt und einen religiösen Hintergrund hat. Jedes der Opfer hat mit einer Sünde gelebt, die der Mörder sühnen möchte.
Der Fall ist komplex und interessant. Und dann beichtet auch noch Smoky ihr dunkelstes Geheimnis...
McFadyen hat es drauf, die vielschichtigsten und verschiedensten Figuren zu zeichnen. Smoky ist total komplex und es ist toll, wie man mit jedem Buch mehr von ihr erfährt. Sie und Bonnie sind wirklich speziell und die Geschichte der beiden sorgt für einen guten Spannungsbogen.
Am Ende ist das Ganze noch gestörter und verworrenen als gedacht und obwohl ich den Teil etwas schwächer fand als die ersten Beiden war die Geschichte mitreißend und wirklich gut.
Ich freue mich auf jeden Fall auf die nächsten Teile der Serie.
Fanatischer Glaube, Geheimnisse, Sünden, Lügen, Rache, Schuld, Vergebung - alles dabei.
Die transsexuelle Tochter eines prominenten Paares wird während eines Fluges getötet und der Täter verschwindet spurlos. Wie passiert sowas? Dann tauchen brutale Videos von Hinrichtungen auf und schnell wird klar, dass es sich um einen fleißigen Serienkiller handelt und einen religiösen Hintergrund hat. Jedes der Opfer hat mit einer Sünde gelebt, die der Mörder sühnen möchte.
Der Fall ist komplex und interessant. Und dann beichtet auch noch Smoky ihr dunkelstes Geheimnis...
McFadyen hat es drauf, die vielschichtigsten und verschiedensten Figuren zu zeichnen. Smoky ist total komplex und es ist toll, wie man mit jedem Buch mehr von ihr erfährt. Sie und Bonnie sind wirklich speziell und die Geschichte der beiden sorgt für einen guten Spannungsbogen.
Am Ende ist das Ganze noch gestörter und verworrenen als gedacht und obwohl ich den Teil etwas schwächer fand als die ersten Beiden war die Geschichte mitreißend und wirklich gut.
Ich freue mich auf jeden Fall auf die nächsten Teile der Serie.
November 16, 2022
Generalnie trzyma poziom poprzednich części, wciągnęła mnie i nie miałam ochoty jej odkładać. Tylko nasz problem polega na tym, że ja i jakiekolwiek wątki dotyczące fanatyzmu religijnego bardzo się nie lubimy, a przez to odbiór książki jest zaburzony, bo niepotrzebnie się wkurzam (:.
February 6, 2023
[2019]
Ich mochte die ersten beiden Smoky-Barett-Bücher sehr, als ich 15 war. Aber das ist 7 Jahre her und ich vielleicht bin ich dem entwachsen - schon weil mich stumpfe Edginess nicht mehr einfängt.
Abgesehen davon, dass hier wahnsinnig unsensibel über Trans*-Identiäten geschrieben wird und alles Sexuelle total mit male gaze beschrieben ist, sind die Charaktere flache Stereotype und sprachlich erinnert mich das stellenweise eher an Amateure in Online-Foren (wobei ich dabei natürlich nicht beurteilen kann, inwiefern das der Übersetzung geschuldet ist).
Ich mochte die ersten beiden Smoky-Barett-Bücher sehr, als ich 15 war. Aber das ist 7 Jahre her und ich vielleicht bin ich dem entwachsen - schon weil mich stumpfe Edginess nicht mehr einfängt.
Abgesehen davon, dass hier wahnsinnig unsensibel über Trans*-Identiäten geschrieben wird und alles Sexuelle total mit male gaze beschrieben ist, sind die Charaktere flache Stereotype und sprachlich erinnert mich das stellenweise eher an Amateure in Online-Foren (wobei ich dabei natürlich nicht beurteilen kann, inwiefern das der Übersetzung geschuldet ist).
March 18, 2017
3.5*
A dark,oft times disturbing and difficult read, this book,while good,wasn't as addictive or compelling as the two previous books in the series.
Can't quite put my finger on it,perhaps I didn't feel as committed to Smoky and her team as I did in the past,but even though I continued to read it,I found myself skimming some paragraphs.
Recommended to those keen to see what's next for Smoky,Bonnie and the team.
A dark,oft times disturbing and difficult read, this book,while good,wasn't as addictive or compelling as the two previous books in the series.
Can't quite put my finger on it,perhaps I didn't feel as committed to Smoky and her team as I did in the past,but even though I continued to read it,I found myself skimming some paragraphs.
Recommended to those keen to see what's next for Smoky,Bonnie and the team.
May 24, 2017
Gledam Lisu. Ona utjelovljuje tajnu, onu koju mrtvi dokazuju, stari znaju, a mladi stalno ignoriraju: život je prekratak, ma koliko dug bio.
Laži mogu boljeti, ali ništa nas toliko ne pogađa kao istina.
Vrijeme čini jednu stvar, agente Washington. Prolazi. Svijet ide dalje. Time se i čovjek mijenja, htio ili ne. Bez obzira na svu bol, na svu mržnju koju osjeća prema sebi. Prije ili kasnije, možda i sasvim pomalo, njegova duša ide dalje.
Laži mogu boljeti, ali ništa nas toliko ne pogađa kao istina.
Vrijeme čini jednu stvar, agente Washington. Prolazi. Svijet ide dalje. Time se i čovjek mijenja, htio ili ne. Bez obzira na svu bol, na svu mržnju koju osjeća prema sebi. Prije ili kasnije, možda i sasvim pomalo, njegova duša ide dalje.
April 28, 2021
Уникална! Държеше ме напрегната и замислена от началото до края.
Още един добре написан роман от автора!
Още един добре написан роман от автора!
December 9, 2017
The Darker Side continues the story of Smoky Barrett and her small - but growing - group of investigators and family, as the hunt turns to someone determined to punish the sins of the repentant.
The crimes themselves are, as always, just on that edge of almost too brutal - but the humanity coming from our protagonist and her team balances it out. The characters make this one of my favourite series; they're so real, three dimensional and genuinely flawed, not just "flawed" in that "Oh, I'm such a terrible perfectionist, it's my worst quality! Tee hee!" way. We get to know them further again, but it's also not preventing the story of this particular book from being overshadowed.
It's an excellent book (and series), and I'd happily recommend it to anyone that's a fan of the murdery genre.
The crimes themselves are, as always, just on that edge of almost too brutal - but the humanity coming from our protagonist and her team balances it out. The characters make this one of my favourite series; they're so real, three dimensional and genuinely flawed, not just "flawed" in that "Oh, I'm such a terrible perfectionist, it's my worst quality! Tee hee!" way. We get to know them further again, but it's also not preventing the story of this particular book from being overshadowed.
It's an excellent book (and series), and I'd happily recommend it to anyone that's a fan of the murdery genre.
March 19, 2019
Много по-добре написана и структурирана от предните две бози. За разлика от тях в тази има и много смисъл и провокация, които те карат да мислиш.
May 11, 2018
May 2018
4 Stars - I Really Liked It
Audibook
This author enjoys writing a lot of internal monologues and he loves using a lot of purple prose in those internal monologues. Those times are the only times that my mind starts to wander. Otherwise, this was a great read.
The keyword for this edition in the Smoky Barrett series is SECRETS. We all have them and the author spends the majority of the book giving us a lot of victims secrets. And because the murderer is focused on airing these secrets, Smoky's team members also deal with some of their own secrets.
This edition was more cerebral than the previous books. More time is spent on thinking through clues and interviewing witnesses than on action packed scenes. The ending was rather passive, at least as far as Smoky and her team are concerned. There is plenty of violence happening for the victims. This book actually made me a little teary eyed at one point. That doesn't happen very often.
It's important potential readers know this book contains a lot of:
April 22, 2016
In The Darker Side, his third novel, McFadyen’s hook is man’s desire to protect his darkest secret. When a jet lands after a routine flight, the crew discover a murdered passenger. Because the victim was a Congressman’s son, the FBI joins the search for the killer.
Agent Smoky Barrett, designated the lead investigator, soon discovers the victim was not only a transsexual but also sought contrition for an iniquitous deed. When Smoky and her task force stumble across 143 coerced videotaped confessions the killer has uploaded to Usertube, she’s convinced she’s dealing with a religious fanatic.
McFadyen’s concept is innovative, frightening, and captivating. His descriptions are vivid, situations and dialogue, at times, shockingly explicit. The protagonist is fearless, her traumatic past evidenced by the scars she defiantly shows the world.
While some may find issue with inaccurate religious edicts, some with the augmented irrationality of McFadyen’s killer(s), most will profess The Darker Side everything McFadyen intended: a suspenseful, unpretentious mystery.
Agent Smoky Barrett, designated the lead investigator, soon discovers the victim was not only a transsexual but also sought contrition for an iniquitous deed. When Smoky and her task force stumble across 143 coerced videotaped confessions the killer has uploaded to Usertube, she’s convinced she’s dealing with a religious fanatic.
McFadyen’s concept is innovative, frightening, and captivating. His descriptions are vivid, situations and dialogue, at times, shockingly explicit. The protagonist is fearless, her traumatic past evidenced by the scars she defiantly shows the world.
While some may find issue with inaccurate religious edicts, some with the augmented irrationality of McFadyen’s killer(s), most will profess The Darker Side everything McFadyen intended: a suspenseful, unpretentious mystery.
August 7, 2016
Drei Bücher der Smoky Barrett-Reihe sind nun im ReRead gelesen, und das bedeutet, dass nur noch eines übrig ist und dann der 5. von mir bereits vorbestellte Band erscheinen wird :D - can't wait really :)))
Dieses Mal werden die Morde nicht so detailreich geschildert wie gewohnt, und auch mit den Mengen an Blut ist der Autor etwas vorsichtiger geworden. Nichts desto trotz ist aber auch dieses Buch wieder spannend bis zum Ende. Vor allem in einer Szene konnte ich als Leser das Buch keineswegs aus der Hand legen, denn dieses Mal bangte ich um Kirby.
08/10 Punkte von mir - und hier gehts zur Rezi: http://sunsys-blog.blogspot.de/2016/0...
Dieses Mal werden die Morde nicht so detailreich geschildert wie gewohnt, und auch mit den Mengen an Blut ist der Autor etwas vorsichtiger geworden. Nichts desto trotz ist aber auch dieses Buch wieder spannend bis zum Ende. Vor allem in einer Szene konnte ich als Leser das Buch keineswegs aus der Hand legen, denn dieses Mal bangte ich um Kirby.
08/10 Punkte von mir - und hier gehts zur Rezi: http://sunsys-blog.blogspot.de/2016/0...
March 19, 2016
Third of the Smoky Barret Series. I have enjoyed these books and have read through them back to back. Once again I have gotten more info about the main Characters and private life's..but it's not over informing and doesn't detract from the main story. This one hasn't been my most gripping however.
April 13, 2018
Ne znam šta se desilo sa ovom knjigom. Da li je do mene, ili je knjiga zaista lošija od prethodnih.
Prvo, zasmetali su mi određeni dijelovi. Jednostavno ih nikako nisam mogla "svariti". Mislim da je to moglo biti puno bolje odrađeno.
Drugo, jako me smetao ovaj prevod. Mislim da je prevodilac mogao barem da baci pogled na prethodna dva dijela, da sve uklopi.
Možda bih imala drugačije mišljenje i možda bi ocjena bila viša da sam čitala u originalu, ali nakon ovog razočarenja, sumnjam da ću to uraditi.
Sada nastavljam sa sljedećim dijelom iz serijala sa nadom da će biti bolji od ovoga.
Prvo, zasmetali su mi određeni dijelovi. Jednostavno ih nikako nisam mogla "svariti". Mislim da je to moglo biti puno bolje odrađeno.
Drugo, jako me smetao ovaj prevod. Mislim da je prevodilac mogao barem da baci pogled na prethodna dva dijela, da sve uklopi.
Možda bih imala drugačije mišljenje i možda bi ocjena bila viša da sam čitala u originalu, ali nakon ovog razočarenja, sumnjam da ću to uraditi.
Sada nastavljam sa sljedećim dijelom iz serijala sa nadom da će biti bolji od ovoga.
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