Afraid of the Dark

“Grippando has definitely reached a new level with this series entry. . . . One of his best.” —Booklist (starred review)

A young girl’s murder sets off a grisly cascade of crime, death, and intrigue—and sends criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck after a sinister group of terrorists on the verge of unleashing chaos across the globe. From New York Times bestseller James Grippando, the ninth Jack Swyteck novel, Afraid of the Dark—perfect for fans of Steve Martini, Phillip Margolin, and Jo Nesbo—is a rollercoaster thrill ride into the very heart of evil.

The New York Times bestselling author's ever-popular hero, Jack Swyteck, is on his most dangerous case yet, uncovering a sinister underground world that has him racing across the globe.

Then: Sergeant Vince Paulo held his best friend's daughter, McKenna, bleeding in his arms as she uttered the name of her murderer and ex-boyfriend, Jamal. That was minutes before a blast made everything go black for Vince—forever.

Now: Miami criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck has been called in to save Jamal from the death penalty for terrorist activity. Despite urgent warnings from his fiancée, undercover FBI agent Andie Henning, to stay away from the case, Jack finds himself inextricably drawn to Jamal's past—even believing his alibi that he was abducted and held in a black site in Prague at the time of McKenna's death. But if Jamal is innocent, then the man who murdered McKenna and took Vince's sight is still out there . . . free.

Soon bodies begin to pile up and ghosts from the past reappear very much alive, confirmed by ominous threats from a faceless man known only as "the Dark." Vince and Jack must confront a mortal danger that goes beyond McKenna's death, across international waters—a journey to piece together the past that leads through the back alleys of London, onto illegal Internet sites, and straight into the mind of pure evil.

“Reader Warning Alert: if you plan to read James Grippando’s white-hot thriller Money to Burn, push all your scheduled activities back for a few days. It’s impossible to put down. . . . [Grippando] writes in the realm of Harlan Coben with a breakneck pace that begs for a big screen adaptation. It’s his best yet. . . . Money to Burn is a real-time, heart-racing gamble.” - Madison County Herald, on Money to Burn

“Grippando’s latest thriller couldn’t be more timely. . . . All the elements you expect from a Grippando novel are here, including interesting characters, a plot filled with nonstop action and suspense, and continual surprises. A splendid read.” - Romantic Times, on Money to Burn

“Grippando is a skilled writer, and he works enough variations on the familiar theme to keep us guessing. . . . Recommend this one to fans of Joseph Finder’s Paranoia, Company Man, or Power Play.” - Booklist, on Money to Burn

“[A] gripping thriller.” - National Examiner, on Money to Burn

“Scandals involving subprime lending, short selling, and Ponzi schemes provide a timely backdrop. . . . Grippando keeps the reader guessing. . . . The dramatic tension remains high with a sadistic hired killer, high-stakes wheeler-dealers, and plenty of cinematic escapes.” - Publishers Weekly, on Money to Burn

“Grippando has proven his skills with edge-of-your-seat thrillers. Afraid of the Dark may be his most gripping yet.” - Miami Herald

“More twists and turns than a snowy mountain pass…Afraid of the Dark will have readers embracing this darkness.” - Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

“A thriller through and through.” - South Florida Sun Sentinel, on Money to Burn

“Grippando has definitely reached a new level with this series entry. . . . One of his best.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Grippando powerfully weaves Afraid of the Dark into a noir look at the fears that seep into each corner of society….Grippando has proven his skills with edge-of-your-seat thrillers. Afraid of the Dark may be his most gripping novel.” - Newark Star Ledger

“Superb plotting, high suspense, compelling timely issues, and finely honed characters make this crime novel/international thriller a great read.” - Library Journal (starred review)

“Rousing. . . . An exciting tale of revenge.” - Publishers Weekly

“Filled with twists and turns and edge-of-the-seat tension.” - Romantic Times