6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just OK, Jan 2 2010
By B. McEwan "yellokat" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Darkness (Mass Market Paperback)
Pre-release customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program
I spent a good deal of time thinking about why this novel didn't make a greater impression on me, as it has several of the elements that I often like. First and foremost, the plot is original and offers some features that go beyond the usual crime novel. The New York City setting is well rendered and credibly depicted and the characters, while not deeply memorable, are realistic. The dialog isn't especially good and often seems stilted, as though no real person would ever actually speak the lines that author Jason Pinter puts in their mouths. But that doesn't seem to be the major barrier keeping me from recommending this book.
After mulling it over awhile, I decided that the big problem with The Darkness is that it doesn't really stand on its own as a story that is separate from Pinter's series of books that feature news reporters Jack O'Donnell and Henry Parker. Pinter seems to assume that readers of this novel have previously read The Fury, a book about the drug wars of the 1980s when crack cocaine was devastating lives all over the city. Apparently, that novel introduced the main characters and established the relationship that exists between them. So in The Darkness Pinter fails to adequately sketch the nuances of the relationship between O'Donnell and his younger counterpart, Parker. This leaves readers at sea because we don't have enough information to fully appreciate the exchanges that take place between O'Donnell and Parker in this later book, not to mention many of the plot details.
So if you plan on reading The Darkness, I recommend that you read the earlier books in the series first, especially The Fury. Then you may find that this novel rates higher than 3 stars for you.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Action Abounds, Jun 17 2010
By P. Bergbauer "Reading Raven" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Darkness (Mass Market Paperback)
Pre-release customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program
The Darkness by Jason Pinter
This is the fifth book in the Henry Parker series.
The Darkness picks up the storyline from "The Fury," where Henry's new-found brother is the victim of a drug related murder.
As an aside; Jason Pinter wrote a free, short ebook, "The Hunters," which augments the storyline of Henry Parker after "The Fury," but before "The Darkness." A good quick thriller read for those of us who are fans and a nice way for newbies to see what his writing is like. It also includes a little tidbit regarding "The Darkness."
In "The Darkness," Henry Parker is again working with Jack, a veteran in the newspaper business who Henry looks up to.
Paulina Cole is working at the rival paper and although not a very likeable character, she makes for an interesting addition to the storyline.
Amanda, Henry's girlfriend, is back too . While worrying about Henry, she is supportive and is great for Henry to bounce his ideas and thoughts off of.
I think the characters here are really thought out and three dimensional and are realistically portrayed.
The plot is interesting and different, but well played out, which makes the story accelerate for an enjoyable thrill ride.
The writing is good, suspenseful and even though violence is prevalent throughout, it isn't overdone and makes the story action packed. Pinter is slated for at least two more Henry Parker novels and I look forward to finishing out the series.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific suspense laden thriller, Dec 4 2009
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Darkness (Mass Market Paperback)
New York Gazette reporter Henry Parker encouraged by Jack O'Donnell investigates the murder of the former's previously unknown half-brother Stephen Gaines by apparently the drug kingpin The Fury. After confronting Henry's dad re a sibling he never knew existed until just before the homeless Stephen's death (see The Fury), the journalists seek to identify the Fury though no one seems to know who he is as they walk the mean streets of Manhattan seeking clues.
Their first lead is the crushed body of a victim found with bones plummeted to almost fine sand floating in the East River. The Fury is sending a warning to those seeking to destroy him and his empire. However, the corpse fails to deter Henry from his quest as he follows up with whatever leads the deceased left behind when his skeleton was whole.
The latest Henry Parker investigation (see THE STOLEN, THE MARK and GUILTY) is a terrific suspense laden thriller with the personal twist adding depth to the hero who obsesses over the destruction of the Fury. The super story line is fast-paced from the recovery of the broken body but must be read after perusing THE FURY, the first half of a duology.
Harriet Klausner