The Darker Side: A Thriller

by Cody McFadyen

Book Overview

In this third bone-tingling thriller from the author of Shadow Man and The Face of Death, FBI agent Smoky Barrett must face a dangerously twisted and chilling serial killer--who's desperate to prove... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553591339
• ISBN13: 9780553591330
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

not for the faint hearted

Another great story in the Smoky Barret series. A twisted mystery of a serial killer with religious overtones. This book gets a little more in depth in Smoky's teams relationships with a little more personal info on James, Alan, Kirby, & Callie. Looking forward to reading the next in the series

!

Yes... 3rd one in the series and its truely amazing. Cody McFayden knows whats up. I love how he can totally write from a women's perspective, not many guys can do that convincingly.

Everyone has a secret...

Smoky Barrett is no stranger to violent crime. She sees it every day in her job as an FBI Special Agent, but she has also experienced it firsthand. Three years ago, her husband and daughter were killed by a serial killer Smoky was chasing. The same man brutalized Smoky, leaving her face horribly disfigured. Her personal tragedies give Smoky a unique insight into both the mind of a killer and the sorrow of a victim. When the transsexual son of a prominent United States Congressman is killed on a on a passenger plane - in mid-flight - the President himself wants Smoky and her talented investigative team on the case. The investigation leads them to a twisted and prolific serial killer who calls himself the Preacher. Serial killers are collectors and the Preacher is no exception. However, precisely what he collects sets him apart. The Preacher is collecting the darkest secrets of his victims, forcing them to confess their sins before he murders them. He's also taunting Smoky and her team, telling them that "time is life" and they must catch him before he kills again. In The Darker Side, Cody McFadyen has created a compelling, gritty crime procedural. I frequently found myself re-reading passages, not to deepen my understanding of the story, but to savor McFadyen's writing style. This is not a bare bones thriller with little prose or character development. The descriptions and characters are rich and well-formed, and the plot never stalls. I was truly sad to finish this book, and I can't wait to see where Mr. McFadyen takes Smoky Barrett next.

McFadyen just keeps getting better...

McFadyen just keeps getting better... Smoky Barrett returns in the third installment of this series. The FBI Director assigns Smoky to investigate the stabbing death of a woman on board an airplane. The deeper Smoky gets into the investigation, the stranger and stranger the case. Lisa Reid was the daughter of a senator, and she was a transsexual. Soon the team is hot on the trail of a serial killer, the Preacher. The evil killer tortures his victims to learn their deepest and darkest secrets. Fans will remember FBI agent Smoky Barrett. The man that killed her husband, tortured her, and caused her daughter's death left her face disfigured. She has a unique talent for understanding killers. This killer wants to be found but only by Smoky. He wants her secrets. McFadyen never fails to amaze me with his talent for holding me captive throughout the book. I went without sleep, because I could not lay this book down. The reader does need to be aware of the violence and gore in this book. Be prepared to sleep with the light on for several days after finishing this book. This is psychological thriller at its finest.

The series gets better and better, if that's possible!

Cody McFayden has created an amazingly complex character, Smoky Barrett. She is an FBI agent who has gone through hell and back - a serial killer traps her and her family in her home, tortures her husband, kills him, then goes after her daughter - Smoky has been tortured herself - her face looks like a roadmap - when she gets a weapon and tried to kill the madman, he moves her daughter in the line of fire and the child is killed. Smoky fights her demons and can get in the minds of killers, because she has been up close and personal with them. Her co-workers are an amazing group of people with passion and grit who help Smoky get as many of the bad guys off the street as possible. In The Darker Side, Smoky is called to Washington DC from Califoria - a prominent person has requested her specifically - her 'daughter' has been murdered in an airplane - turns out her child is a transexual and she asks Smoky to help her find the killer - turns out this killer is sicker than many she has encountered. McFayden uses the Internet in this outing - a YouTube type site where the killer posts the murders and all the world is his audience - The book again shows us the amazing range of McFayden's writing - the darkness against the light. An amazing group of good guys who themselves are shades of light and dark. If you haven't read this series, start from book one - Shadow Man - this is a great series and I look forward to the next book of this amazing series.

Review

Someone has taken it upon themselves to deal out justice. A woman is murdered and the killer leaves behind a clue. It has to do with penitence and the victim paying for her sins. What sins could a nice, quiet woman who had no enemies be keeping? That's what Smokey Barrett had her team are in charge of finding out. It seems this psychopathic killer actually wants Smoky to find him. He will do anything to get her attention, no matter how many people he has to kill. Smoky is ready to follow the path the killer has laid out for her and her team. Can Smoky deliver the final blow to this psychopath or will this killer make Smoky confess her sins before she meets her maker? The more I get to know Smoky Barrett; the more I just fall in love with her determination to a job well done. I pity anyone who crosses Smoky's bad side as she will make you wish you were dead. Smokey has matched wits with some of the sickest, ruthless psychopaths around. I have to say that The Darker Side is a long awaited release for me. Ever since I first discovered Mr. McFadyen a couple of years ago and read his first book Shadow Man, I was hooked! Mr. McFadyen makes you say "He can't do that, can he." The next thing you know he does and your left wondering what else will this author come up with next? I will tell you Mr. McFadyen will rip your heart out and leaves you breathless for more. You can bet whenever I see a Cody McFadyen book I will be buying it. Kudos to you Mr. McFadyen.