saltycorpse's review against another edition
3.0
I've been enjoying this series but sometimes there are just TOO many twists at the end.
willontheinternet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mcbaird's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic Caleb zelic book. All three have been a pleasure. I love the characters, the writing, the action, the pace. The insight into a the deaf world of this character is so unique.
Emma Viskic is my new favourite author. These books are the best investment of time you will come across.
Emma Viskic is my new favourite author. These books are the best investment of time you will come across.
never4get's review against another edition
4.0
A continuation of the Caleb Zelic investigator series - number 3 in the series. I love the carefully crafted description of Caleb's deafness and his interaction in the world by a combination of lip-reading and his hearing aids, or sign language with others who share that with him. The difficulties of lip reading when people mumble, speak too quickly or have facial hair are quite illustrative - and amusing.
'Make Good Decisions' was Caleb's motto after the previous traumas he'd endured.
But Caleb again gets drawn into a crime against his will when there are a number of brutal murders and a child is kidnapped when he was 'looking after' her. This brings his former partner Frankie back into the scene [because Frankie is her aunt] and together they frantically try to work out the background and locate where she is. Meanwhile Caleb is being pursued by a federal police agent Imogen who is determined to get information she wants from Frankie's sister - who has been brutally attacked and is in an induced coma.
As always, the delightful interaction between Caleb and his wife Kat are a welcome respite from the harrowing pace of what is going on in Caleb's life. Their relationship is still undefined - with another Aboriginal man hovering on the periphery and helping Kat with her artwork. So far Kat's pregnancy is going OK, but both are always on edge that she will suffer another miscarriage.
In this book Frankie is eliminated completely, and is revealed once again as a traitor to Caleb. The daughter is eventually returned to her sister, but because Caleb had revealed all her illegal trading, she tells the daughter that he is a 'bad man' - which confuses the daughter because she had liked him very much.
There is also a side story of a restaurant owned by a deaf owner with totally deaf employees, which was being sabotaged by someone. Caleb solves that issue, but not without putting the elderly owner offside for a time at least. The end of the book is quite hopeful, after a successful ultrasound and a joyful party at the restaurant. I look forward to the next book.
'Make Good Decisions' was Caleb's motto after the previous traumas he'd endured.
But Caleb again gets drawn into a crime against his will when there are a number of brutal murders and a child is kidnapped when he was 'looking after' her. This brings his former partner Frankie back into the scene [because Frankie is her aunt] and together they frantically try to work out the background and locate where she is. Meanwhile Caleb is being pursued by a federal police agent Imogen who is determined to get information she wants from Frankie's sister - who has been brutally attacked and is in an induced coma.
As always, the delightful interaction between Caleb and his wife Kat are a welcome respite from the harrowing pace of what is going on in Caleb's life. Their relationship is still undefined - with another Aboriginal man hovering on the periphery and helping Kat with her artwork. So far Kat's pregnancy is going OK, but both are always on edge that she will suffer another miscarriage.
In this book Frankie is eliminated completely, and is revealed once again as a traitor to Caleb. The daughter is eventually returned to her sister, but because Caleb had revealed all her illegal trading, she tells the daughter that he is a 'bad man' - which confuses the daughter because she had liked him very much.
There is also a side story of a restaurant owned by a deaf owner with totally deaf employees, which was being sabotaged by someone. Caleb solves that issue, but not without putting the elderly owner offside for a time at least. The end of the book is quite hopeful, after a successful ultrasound and a joyful party at the restaurant. I look forward to the next book.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘Make good decisions.’
Private Investigator Caleb Zelic can see some light at the end of the tunnel. He is in therapy, he’s tentatively reconciled with his wife Kat, and he’s connecting with friends in the deaf community. He is working hard at making good decisions. Caleb is deaf and relies heavily on lip-reading to understand speech.
But it is all about to go horribly wrong for him. Again.
A severely injured person, a violent confrontation, a kidnapped child. Caleb’s ex-partner Frankie begs him for help. But just who can Caleb trust? The police are giving him mixed messages. Can Frankie and Caleb save the child?
At the same time, his friend Alberto is in trouble. Alberto’s café, which employs other deaf people, is being targeted. Who wants to destroy his business, and why? Can Caleb help?
Two different crimes, and Kat might not be safe either.
Wow! This is the first Caleb Zelic novel I have read, and now I want to read the first two. This novel has several strands and a few twists (including one I really wasn’t expecting towards the end).
Highly recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Private Investigator Caleb Zelic can see some light at the end of the tunnel. He is in therapy, he’s tentatively reconciled with his wife Kat, and he’s connecting with friends in the deaf community. He is working hard at making good decisions. Caleb is deaf and relies heavily on lip-reading to understand speech.
But it is all about to go horribly wrong for him. Again.
A severely injured person, a violent confrontation, a kidnapped child. Caleb’s ex-partner Frankie begs him for help. But just who can Caleb trust? The police are giving him mixed messages. Can Frankie and Caleb save the child?
At the same time, his friend Alberto is in trouble. Alberto’s café, which employs other deaf people, is being targeted. Who wants to destroy his business, and why? Can Caleb help?
Two different crimes, and Kat might not be safe either.
Wow! This is the first Caleb Zelic novel I have read, and now I want to read the first two. This novel has several strands and a few twists (including one I really wasn’t expecting towards the end).
Highly recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
shelleyrae's review against another edition
5.0
Darkness for Light is the third book in Emma Viskic’s outstanding crime fiction series featuring Caleb Zelic.
Following the tumultuous events of Resurrection Bay, and And Fire Came Down, security consultancy Caleb Zelic is attempting to make better decisions. With the help of a therapist he has begun reconnecting with the Deaf community, reconciling with his pregnant wife, and rebuilding his company after his partner’s betrayal.
Meeting a new client at an urban children’s farm might be unusual, but in need of the business Caleb isn’t suspicious of the arrangement until the moment he stumbles upon the man’s body. Caleb is prepared to make the right decision and walk away from the mess, but the dead man’s colleague, an AFP officer, refuses to let him. She needs to find Caleb’s ex-partner, Frankie, and she isn’t above using blackmail to ensure his cooperation. Caleb has no qualms about turning Frankie over to the agent, until her nine year old niece, Tilda, is violently abducted, and the only decision he can make is the one which will save the child’s life, for better or worse.
From the opening chapters, Darkness for Light sets a breathtaking pace of twists and turns. It’s not only the escalating violence that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the body count rises, but the complexity of the situation that Caleb finds himself struggling to unravel. Skilfully crafted, the main plot revolves around a hidden ledger that could expose the illegal financial machinations of Melbourne’s elite. There are several parties who will do anything to get their hands on it, and Caleb is caught in the middle with no one to trust. Viskic definitely kept me guessing.
Caleb is not just under pressure from the rogue AFP agent, Frankie’s reappearance, and Tilda’s kidnapping, Kat is nearing a critical point in her pregnancy, and Alberto Conti, a deaf restaurant owner who has become a friend, has asked for his help. All of this threatens to undo the progress Caleb has made in therapy to deal with his demons. Viskic’s character development with Caleb has been uniformly excellent in previous instalments, but I particularly admired how she handled his emotional conflict in Darkness for Light.
Darkness for Light is an exhilarating crime fiction novel, personally I’d recommend reading at least books one or two (though preferably both) before reading it, you’ll find the investment is worth it.
Following the tumultuous events of Resurrection Bay, and And Fire Came Down, security consultancy Caleb Zelic is attempting to make better decisions. With the help of a therapist he has begun reconnecting with the Deaf community, reconciling with his pregnant wife, and rebuilding his company after his partner’s betrayal.
Meeting a new client at an urban children’s farm might be unusual, but in need of the business Caleb isn’t suspicious of the arrangement until the moment he stumbles upon the man’s body. Caleb is prepared to make the right decision and walk away from the mess, but the dead man’s colleague, an AFP officer, refuses to let him. She needs to find Caleb’s ex-partner, Frankie, and she isn’t above using blackmail to ensure his cooperation. Caleb has no qualms about turning Frankie over to the agent, until her nine year old niece, Tilda, is violently abducted, and the only decision he can make is the one which will save the child’s life, for better or worse.
From the opening chapters, Darkness for Light sets a breathtaking pace of twists and turns. It’s not only the escalating violence that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the body count rises, but the complexity of the situation that Caleb finds himself struggling to unravel. Skilfully crafted, the main plot revolves around a hidden ledger that could expose the illegal financial machinations of Melbourne’s elite. There are several parties who will do anything to get their hands on it, and Caleb is caught in the middle with no one to trust. Viskic definitely kept me guessing.
Caleb is not just under pressure from the rogue AFP agent, Frankie’s reappearance, and Tilda’s kidnapping, Kat is nearing a critical point in her pregnancy, and Alberto Conti, a deaf restaurant owner who has become a friend, has asked for his help. All of this threatens to undo the progress Caleb has made in therapy to deal with his demons. Viskic’s character development with Caleb has been uniformly excellent in previous instalments, but I particularly admired how she handled his emotional conflict in Darkness for Light.
Darkness for Light is an exhilarating crime fiction novel, personally I’d recommend reading at least books one or two (though preferably both) before reading it, you’ll find the investment is worth it.
emilyrainsford's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Caleb Zelic has a new motto - Make Good Decisions. After almost losing everyone he cares about in the last book, he's getting therapy, rebuilding his tenuous relationship with ex-wife Kat, connecting with the Deaf community, and making better choices. Well... trying to.
Of course you know dang well he's going to get drawn headlong into another mess.
I enjoyed this one more than the second - in fact, I think this might be my fav of the three. The fact Caleb is at least making an effort to work on his demons makes his perspective a little less frustrating to live in. The mystery in this one includes a 9 year old girl who is kidnapped - you can't beat a kidnapped kid for keeping the stakes high.
I very much appreciated how authentically the child read. Authors who don't know kids can have a tendency to write anyone under about 13 like a 2 year old. She's smart, precocious and quirky and both the reader and Caleb are endeared to her quickly before she's ripped away, making you feel invested in her outcome. Caleb and Kat's history of pregnancy loss adds another emotional layer to it all.
As with the others in the series, there are plenty of twists and turns in the unpredictable plot and a stomach dropping moment or two, especially for those who've read the series in order and know the history (which I highly recommend).
Thoroughly enjoyed this one and I'm super glad there is one more installment of Caleb's story to read!
Of course you know dang well he's going to get drawn headlong into another mess.
I enjoyed this one more than the second - in fact, I think this might be my fav of the three. The fact Caleb is at least making an effort to work on his demons makes his perspective a little less frustrating to live in. The mystery in this one includes a 9 year old girl who is kidnapped - you can't beat a kidnapped kid for keeping the stakes high.
I very much appreciated how authentically the child read. Authors who don't know kids can have a tendency to write anyone under about 13 like a 2 year old. She's smart, precocious and quirky and both the reader and Caleb are endeared to her quickly before she's ripped away, making you feel invested in her outcome. Caleb and Kat's history of pregnancy loss adds another emotional layer to it all.
As with the others in the series, there are plenty of twists and turns in the unpredictable plot and a stomach dropping moment or two, especially for those who've read the series in order and know the history (which I highly recommend).
Thoroughly enjoyed this one and I'm super glad there is one more installment of Caleb's story to read!
laurenla's review against another edition
5.0
I hugely enjoy Viskic's noir mystery series from Australia, featuring private investigator Caleb, who is deaf. Her writing about contemporary Australia is great for an armchair traveller, and her writing about the deaf community which is detailed in Darkness for Light is equally of interest. A compelling story with several mysteries wrapped together, Darkness for Light is classic noir of betrayals and loyalties.