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tita_noir's review against another edition
3.0
Suzanne Brockmann is very much an auto read for me. I especially love her SEAL 16 series and Sam and Alyssa rank as one of my three favorite romance novel couples of all time.
But since the introduction of Decker, Tess, Sophia etc. all in Flashpoint, I haven't had the connection with this second group that I had with the SEAL 16 group (Tom, Kelly, Jules, Stan, Teri, Nils, Max, Gina, Kenny etc.). I actually think Flashpoint was my least favorite of all the books.
But I've plugged along because I like Brockmann and I like the earlier characters who still make appearances in the series.
And now here we are with Dark of Night where there is finally closure in the weird love triangle that has been playing out so moodily in the background of the last several books. DAve loves Sophia but Sophia loves Decker and Decker....well who knows what is going on with Decker?
As it turns out there are about three major plots happening in this book that tie up all the lose strings from earlier in the series.
First this is the Jimmy Nash and Tess storyline. While these two found their happily ever after about 4 books ago, since that time Jimmy has been doing mysterious and dangerous things and it has been apparent that someone has been trying to kill him. In the book just preceding this one, Into The Fire, Jules faked Jimmy's death to get those people off of his back. But the Big Bad people who are after Jimmy know that death can be faked and in their zeal to make sure Jimmy is really dead, they go after the people closest to him.
Second is the love story of Dave and Sophia. So Dave gets the girl of his dream amidst fears that he is second best.
And third is the love story of Decker and...get this...Tracy. Yes, Tracy. The ditzy, office receptionist who has -- up until this book -- been portrayed as a bit of a bimbo. Not a bad or sleazy bimbo, but a bimbo nonetheless.
I actually liked all of these stories separately. My favorite was actually the Jimmy Nash storyline. It was fun to read about how menacing Jimmy's nemesis was and how far he'd (they'd) go to make sure he was sniffed out. And it was a super double bonus to have Sam, Alyssa and Jules involved in this storyline.
The Dave Sophia storyline was almost an after thought. The best part was Dave's inner dialogue that told of how utterly happy he was to get the girl of his dreams. I have always found the character of Sophia to be remote and hard to get to know. This book doesn't change that.
The Decker/Tracy storyline gets a ton of ink. If I had to classify one of the stories as the alpha story this would be it with the Jimmy Nash storyline as the vehicle to get Tess/Decker together. I like the idea of ditzy Tracy and brooding Decker together. I just hated the execution. I felt that Brockmann tried too hard to make Tracy somehow worthy of Decker. Every scene was a laundry list of Tracy's wonderful qualities and we were constantly being told how smart she was. Seriously. Tracy is Smart. We were told over and over again. She figured out a solution in a room full of ex-SEALS, CIA and FBI who were stumped. Cuz she's smart, see? And she alone figured out Nash was alive when only Jules and Decker were in on the fake death scenario. Cuz she's smart! And she alone figured out Decker sometimes needed to relinquish control. Because not only is she smart, but she can read people too. I don't mind that Tracy wasn't a mental giant. It was kinda nice having a human present in a world of killer demi-gods.
I don't care that Brockmann felt that she has to try to reassure us that Tracy wasn't quite the ditz she's painted her before. I just didn't need it anvilled on my head like it was. And actually, she didn't need to overdo it on the Tracy-Is-Smart stuff. She had already established that Tracy wasn't an airhead back in Into The Storm when she showed Tracy to be cool under pressure when she was kidnapped. That was done in an organic way that felt more natural and it had already gone a long way to painting Tracy in a different light.
I am glad that the whole Sophia/Dave/Deck thing is over with. I hope this book marks another turning point in this series and we can go forward and see what other adventures the Troubleshooters get into.
But since the introduction of Decker, Tess, Sophia etc. all in Flashpoint, I haven't had the connection with this second group that I had with the SEAL 16 group (Tom, Kelly, Jules, Stan, Teri, Nils, Max, Gina, Kenny etc.). I actually think Flashpoint was my least favorite of all the books.
But I've plugged along because I like Brockmann and I like the earlier characters who still make appearances in the series.
And now here we are with Dark of Night where there is finally closure in the weird love triangle that has been playing out so moodily in the background of the last several books. DAve loves Sophia but Sophia loves Decker and Decker....well who knows what is going on with Decker?
As it turns out there are about three major plots happening in this book that tie up all the lose strings from earlier in the series.
First this is the Jimmy Nash and Tess storyline. While these two found their happily ever after about 4 books ago, since that time Jimmy has been doing mysterious and dangerous things and it has been apparent that someone has been trying to kill him. In the book just preceding this one, Into The Fire, Jules faked Jimmy's death to get those people off of his back. But the Big Bad people who are after Jimmy know that death can be faked and in their zeal to make sure Jimmy is really dead, they go after the people closest to him.
Second is the love story of Dave and Sophia. So Dave gets the girl of his dream amidst fears that he is second best.
And third is the love story of Decker and...get this...Tracy. Yes, Tracy. The ditzy, office receptionist who has -- up until this book -- been portrayed as a bit of a bimbo. Not a bad or sleazy bimbo, but a bimbo nonetheless.
I actually liked all of these stories separately. My favorite was actually the Jimmy Nash storyline. It was fun to read about how menacing Jimmy's nemesis was and how far he'd (they'd) go to make sure he was sniffed out. And it was a super double bonus to have Sam, Alyssa and Jules involved in this storyline.
The Dave Sophia storyline was almost an after thought. The best part was Dave's inner dialogue that told of how utterly happy he was to get the girl of his dreams. I have always found the character of Sophia to be remote and hard to get to know. This book doesn't change that.
The Decker/Tracy storyline gets a ton of ink. If I had to classify one of the stories as the alpha story this would be it with the Jimmy Nash storyline as the vehicle to get Tess/Decker together. I like the idea of ditzy Tracy and brooding Decker together. I just hated the execution. I felt that Brockmann tried too hard to make Tracy somehow worthy of Decker. Every scene was a laundry list of Tracy's wonderful qualities and we were constantly being told how smart she was. Seriously. Tracy is Smart. We were told over and over again. She figured out a solution in a room full of ex-SEALS, CIA and FBI who were stumped. Cuz she's smart, see? And she alone figured out Nash was alive when only Jules and Decker were in on the fake death scenario. Cuz she's smart! And she alone figured out Decker sometimes needed to relinquish control. Because not only is she smart, but she can read people too. I don't mind that Tracy wasn't a mental giant. It was kinda nice having a human present in a world of killer demi-gods.
I don't care that Brockmann felt that she has to try to reassure us that Tracy wasn't quite the ditz she's painted her before. I just didn't need it anvilled on my head like it was. And actually, she didn't need to overdo it on the Tracy-Is-Smart stuff. She had already established that Tracy wasn't an airhead back in Into The Storm when she showed Tracy to be cool under pressure when she was kidnapped. That was done in an organic way that felt more natural and it had already gone a long way to painting Tracy in a different light.
I am glad that the whole Sophia/Dave/Deck thing is over with. I hope this book marks another turning point in this series and we can go forward and see what other adventures the Troubleshooters get into.
alice2000's review against another edition
5.0
This series is a Huge Favorite for me. When I was first reading the reviews I was a little bummed because I saw that it was about Sophie and Dave- who knew they would end together?!? For real?!
But then we reached the parts with Decker and Tracy. I love Decker...mmm.... and the two of them together was smoking. And again...who knew they would end up connecting?
Can't wait until July for the next one.
But then we reached the parts with Decker and Tracy. I love Decker...mmm.... and the two of them together was smoking. And again...who knew they would end up connecting?
Can't wait until July for the next one.
slc333's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this one. I love the who Sophie & Decker ended up with. Different than what you expected based on previous books but sooo much better.
ssejig's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I'm really on a roll with the Brockmann books and I'm really bummed that this is the next-to-last one out there at the moment. I don't know why, but the story of Tracey and Decker is compelling. I think it's because both characters have been revealed in depth in previous books. Not sure if this would be quite as good a book if you hadn't read the other 13, especially since the sub-stories are all connected to previous books as well. It's really interesting that Brockmann sets up Dave Malkoff as a James Bond type character. It's pivotal to the plot of him hooking up with Sophia. I'm glad that she's finally happy though it is interesting that Brockmann didn't have her hook up with the man that she was lusting after for so long. But that is beautifully explained and the other hookups all make sense. I also have to say that I enjoy the little commentaries that Brockmann includes about her own writing, including a comment about a previous book when Tracey has a somewhat critical thought about a friend hooking up with a guy the friend had only known for a few days.
trogdor19's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible- suspense from literally page 1, and a cast of characters that I loved like they were my own family. If Suzanne Brockmann gets any better, her writing will likely have to be made illegal.
samie_k3's review against another edition
5.0
I approached this book with caution due to the traces of foam I saw splattered on the path from certain fans who didn't appreciate the ending. That being said, I loved this book and agree 100% with the direction the author took.
I know a lot of people wanted to see her with Decker, but I never did. They never had compatible personalities from the very beginning—and that was BEFORE Decker went ballistic over that... event... in the abandoned building.
From the first moment that Dave mentioned knowing her from his CIA days I wanted them together. Then to see how much he adored her? He has always been, imo, exactly what she needs. Those two fit together perfectly. I'm glad Sophia finally recognized it.
Tracy though?
She was a little bit of a surprise, but not completely. Brockmann I think was hinting at this particular pairing when she played out that scene with Deck and Tracy in the Hotel room. The one where she dumps out her bag with ah, embarassing items in it? There was a spark between them. Just a little one, but it's definitely there.
I also liked how Tracy AND Decker's characters developed in this book. We learned a lot about both of them, and I for one, think they make a perfect couple. Tracy's not as Ditzy as she first appeared.
Spoiler
Sophia, Sophia, Sophia.I know a lot of people wanted to see her with Decker, but I never did. They never had compatible personalities from the very beginning—and that was BEFORE Decker went ballistic over that... event... in the abandoned building.
From the first moment that Dave mentioned knowing her from his CIA days I wanted them together. Then to see how much he adored her? He has always been, imo, exactly what she needs. Those two fit together perfectly. I'm glad Sophia finally recognized it.
Tracy though?
She was a little bit of a surprise, but not completely. Brockmann I think was hinting at this particular pairing when she played out that scene with Deck and Tracy in the Hotel room. The one where she dumps out her bag with ah, embarassing items in it? There was a spark between them. Just a little one, but it's definitely there.
I also liked how Tracy AND Decker's characters developed in this book. We learned a lot about both of them, and I for one, think they make a perfect couple. Tracy's not as Ditzy as she first appeared.
kboc923's review against another edition
4.0
this might be my favorite of the troubleshooters series - it brought a lot of old characters back, and had a lot of tense moments. good read!
doc_k55's review against another edition
4.0
Brockmann continues to maintain her position on the bully pulpit; however, it's somewhat less annoying in this book than in the last few. I don't like the speed of the romance (Decker and Tracy... really? In just a few days? I don't get it.) But other than that, I like the story, the development, revisiting older characters.
jlniksich's review against another edition
5.0
This one was amazing. I really think that I enjoyed this one because I had just read the previous one just a day before. I really do wish that Suzanne would put these books out more often. The characters are completely believable and likeable. Once you really want to know about a character, Suzanne just mentions that character in the next book. But at the same time introduces other characters that you start liking just as much.
claudiaswisher's review against another edition
4.0
My first Kindle book. Suzanne Brockmann is a guilty pleasure...unrealistic romantic-suspense. I like the returning characters. Sam and Alyssa and I have been through so much together. But Brockmann has issues she cares deeply about: she is one of the first mainstream novelists to create a strong action-figure character who's gay, and she's the first to include a romantic story line for Jules, her gay hero. This book touches on torture and waterboarding as tactics used by some American intelligence agencies. I appreciate and admire her passion and her willingness to take on these ideas.
And she can tell a rip-roaring story. Kindle cost: $9.99! Bookstore cost? $25+.
I LOVE MY KINDLE!
And she can tell a rip-roaring story. Kindle cost: $9.99! Bookstore cost? $25+.
I LOVE MY KINDLE!