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.

Police sergeant Vince Paulo held his best friend’s dying daughter in his arms as, with her final breath, she uttered the name of her murderer: her ex-boyfriend, Jamal. Minutes later, the house exploded, shrouding Paulo in darkness forever.

Miami criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck is shocked to discover that the client he’s been assigned to defend, a young man facing the death penalty for terrorist activities, is already wanted for the murder of his girlfriend and the permanent blinding of a police officer. Jamal’s alibi, that he was being held and tortured by government agents at the time of the girl’s death, seems far-fetched. But a subsequent rash of slayings suggests there may be some veracity to the young man’s story. That bitter truth is launching Jack into a deadly international hunt for a faceless killer known only as “the Dark,” and plunging him deep into the terrifying heart of purest 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