When Darkness Falls

In the latest novel from the bestselling author whom critics have called "the thriller writer to watch," lawyer Jack Swyteck tackles a case in which the life of his best friend hangs in the balance—and in which nothing is as it seems.

Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck isn't looking for a new client, at least not one who is homeless and in jail for threatening to jump off a bridge. But from the moment Jack is called to defend the man, who goes by the name Falcon, something is amiss. For one thing, Falcon comes up with the $10,000 bail—in cash. Then the body of a brutally murdered woman is found in the trunk of the abandoned car in which he is living.

Panicked and on the run, Falcon takes Jack's best friend, Theo, hostage. They end up barricaded in a motel room, and Theo isn't the only one at Falcon's mercy. Jack must work with the cops and their crackerjack negotiator to free Theo and the other captives before Falcon decides he has nothing to lose by killing them all.

What Jack doesn't know is that Falcon has a much bigger agenda, and that there are people behind the scenes who will stop at nothing to keep their dangerous secrets. Thus unfolds a riveting, lightning-paced story, as only James Grippando can tell it.

From the moment Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck is called upon to defend a new client, a homeless man jailed for threatening to jump off a bridge, it's obvious something is amiss. For one thing, the man called Falcon manages to come up with the $10,000 bail . . . in cash. Then the body of a brutally murdered woman is found in the trunk of the abandoned car he's living in.

But it isn't until a panicked Falcon takes a group of innocent people hostage, including Jack's best friend, and barricades himself and his prisoners in a motel room that Swyteck realizes how much is truly at stake. For Falcon has a bigger agenda than suicide, and Jack Swyteck must get to the root of a dark history and bitter secrets before Falcon decides he has nothing to lose by killing them all.

“The thriller writer to watch.” - Wall Street Journal

“From the get-go, it’s beaucoups suspense. . . . It’s the relentless pacing that makes this one sizzle.” - Kirkus Reviews

“By far the best in the series.” - Booklist

“Grippando builds on his resume of bestselling legal thrillers with another winner.” - Library Journal

“Pardon the pun, but Grippando grips from the first page.” - Harlan Coben

“Engaging characters.” - Publishers Weekly

“Well written . . . gripping.” - Washington Post