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Most defense attorneys will tell you that many of the people that they represent are not innocent. In spite of that fact, they are sworn to provide them with the best possible legal defense. Miami defense attorney Jack Swyteck finds himself in a real dilemma when he is assigned a homeless man known as Falcon. He is certain that he won't receive his fees. But much to his surprise, Falcon has no problem at all coming up with the required $10,000. In fact, he sends Jack to Bermuda to retrieve it, at which time Jack finds Falcon has stashed $200,000 in a safe deposit box. Falcon had been arrested after threatening to jump from a bridge unless the mayor's daughter is brought to the scene. Once released from jail, he is implicated in the brutal murder of a woman found in the trunk of the abandoned car which he had been calling home. Panicked, Falcon takes Jack's best friend, Theo, hostage, along with two women and a man found in a seedy motel room. Grippando takes us deep into the twisted mind of Falcon. Along with the police, the reader is never certain what he will do next. Will he kill one of the hostages? Will he be satisfied if the mayor's daughter, Alicia Mendoza, comes to talk to him? The motel is surrounded by SWAT teams and eagle-eyed snipers. Alicia's former boyfriend, Vince Paulo, is assigned as the negotiator. There's a lot on the line for Vince, as he lost his sight during a similar stand-off. Alicia, Jack and Vince form a team who desperately try to figure out how to put Falcon out of commission without harming the hostages. WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is a suspenseful thriller that goes beyond action and provides a good look at the motivations of the various characters in the book, as well as portraying some of the political influences that are impacting the situation. I really liked Jack Swyteck, who was a defense attorney with a conscience. In spite of the fact that he had an extremely unlikable client, he provided him with the best defense that he could and would not allow himself to use information about Falcon to barter with the mayor and others for personal gain. Grippando also did a great job in his depiction of Vince Paulo, who was only recently blinded and struggling with other people's reactions to him as well as finding a way to live a meaningful life. In addition to the present-day situation, Grippando weaves in a sub-plot about Argentina in the late 1970s and early 80s having to do with the 'Disappeared' during the 'dirty war.' The connections to the present day were a little too convenient, but do add another dimension to the narrative. WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is the sixth book in the Swyteck series. This is my first exposure to the author and the character. Based on how much I enjoyed this book, it won't be my last.
Reviewed by Maddy Van Hertbruggen, November 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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