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Fade to Black: DCI Allie St Clair #1 (The Black Mystery Series) Kindle Edition
'Steven Bannister's 'Black' Series is a must-read' - David Leadbeater- U.K. Best selling author of the Matt Drake and Alicia Myles Thrillers.
'Fade to Black is action-packed, darkly amusing and definitely disturbing - Bannister takes you on one hell of a ride.'' - Karen Perkins, best-selling author of the Valkyrie Series and Yorkshire Ghost Stories.
'Bannister's DCI St Clair and Michael are a great pairing. The Black Series is an absolute thrill- a -minute cracker.'
Fade to Black is a fast-paced thriller. It blends present day crime themes with darker, mysterious undertones.
'London's dark underbelly is exposed in Fade to Black in a quirky, original and compelling way. Its a first-class thriller.'
Overview:
There's more going on in London than meets the eye.
Allie St Clair is New Scotland Yard's brightest. She's the youngest woman ever to be promoted to Detective Chief Inspector and the hopes of many ride with her.
But something is very wrong in rain-swept London.
A brutal, crucifixion- style murder rocks the inner city on her first day in her new job and her former boss dies violently, but not before he alludes to rampant 'darker' criminal elements.
Murders are going unsolved and before long her superiors at The Yard are baying for her blood. She must find a demented murderer to end the chaos and in a frantic race against time, rescue a valued colleague. For Allison St Clair, things get complicated and very personal.
A breathtaking climax and revelations about mystical Glastonbury Tor lead to Allie St Clair's life being changed forever. She discovers to her horror why she alone has been chosen to partner the mysterious 'Michael' to combat the satanic 'Mr Black'.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 11, 2013
- Reading age13 - 18 years
- File size1005 KB
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See full series-
First 3$14.97
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First 5$24.95
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All 6$29.94
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First 3$14.97
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First 5$24.95
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All 6$29.94
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 5 books.
This option includes 6 books.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
'Wow- if you like an intriguing read, one that really keeps you guessing, try Fade to Black. I just couldn't put it down and that's rare for me. It's dark, confronting and funny- and I loved it! - KC.
" The combination of police drama and edgy thriller is a real winner. The darker themes are handled particularly well. I loved Allie St Clair's character and came to know and understand her world and the people in it. The twist and turns keep you reading and guessing. The action sequences are compelling and believable. I thoroughly recommend it as a quality read. It's a very well crafted novel. " - K. Harvey.
'Fans of James Herbert, Blake Crouch and Stephen King will love this series...'
From the Author
Author Q&A with Steven Bannister
Q: To my mind, Fade to Black, Back to Black, The Black Net , Black Mary and Coldharbour Lane, are best categorized as fast-paced action mysteries, is that how you see it?
The books are a mixture of genres really - action/adventure and crime/fantasy thrillers. I didn't want to write formulaic police procedurals or by-the-numbers urban fantasies. The homicides which occur variously in contemporary London and rural England, have a darker, more far-reaching nature than most. The books are written in the 'thriller' style and feature a young female protagonist, Allie St Clair who has her life and her understanding of the world completely turned upside down.
Q: What authors do you admire?
Hell...lots. Let's see- the great James Lee Burke, Nelson De Mille, Don Winslow, James Rollins, Robert Crais, John Connolly. And Trevanian, just to throw in an oldie. It might seem an eclectic mix, but good writing is good writing regardless of genre and subject matter. I'm open to new styles and influences. Something seeps in to you from every book you read.
Q: How do Back to Black and The Black Net follow-up Fade to Black?
I felt young Detective Chief Inspector Allie St Clair from Fade to Black had a lot more to give and experience. Back to Black takes her journey and her partnership with the enigmatic Michael to a new level. There are more horrors out there and really, she is a novice, but learning fast! The Black Net takes her away from London and in to the mystical Cornish landscape. The big challenge in writing a series is, of course, including justenough back story from the first novel to remind readers of past eventsand to clue-in new readers who may be starting with book two or even number three. HopefullyI've done that effectively. Each book has reached number one on Amazon, so, so far so good.
Product details
- ASIN : B007PBQ8JO
- Publisher : Firestone Media (November 11, 2013)
- Publication date : November 11, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 1005 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 410 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 147838719X
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,620,823 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,781 in Ghost Suspense
- #4,203 in Serial Killers
- #9,050 in Paranormal Suspense
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Steven Bannister is the international best-selling author of dark thrillers Fade to Black, Back to Black, The Black Net, Black Mary, Coldharbour Lane, The Stone Baby and the latest, The Unforgiver. Steve's writing influences include James Lee Burke, Nelson De Mille, Stephen King, Dan Simmons, Ray Bradbury and John Banville, among others.
Steve has worked in international marketing and publishing in London, L.A., Boston and Houston. Apart from writing in its various forms, Steve plays blues guitar and kayaks pristine waterways when time and tide permit. He is married with two children.
Steve's website address is: stevenbannister.com
Publisher:
For advance information and free stories, join Steven Bannister's Reader Group, email: stevencbannister@gmail.com, quote 'Reader Group'
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book's storytelling and find it interesting. They like the characters and their personalities. The writing quality is described as well-written and intelligently done. The story has many surprises and excitement, with plenty of action and mystery elements. Customers appreciate the clear contrast between good and evil, and the interactions between Allie and Michael.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it spellbinding, enjoyable, and interesting. The storytelling is well-crafted, with good characterization and interactions between characters. Readers are hooked from the first few chapters and appreciate the plot.
"...The book kept me intrigued and guessing right through...." Read more
"...Allie St Clair was well done, as were most of the other lead characters. The writing moved along in an easy, readable pace...." Read more
"...appearance of angels and demons in the modern day consistent and interesting...." Read more
"...Writing is pretty good. It’s genre fiction, so you’re after some cheap escapism, and this fills the bill...." Read more
Customers like the character development. They appreciate the personality of Michael and how he adapts to modern life. The heroine is well-drawn, with an appropriate pace.
"...The protagonist is not just a pawn, but is a fully formed character with her own motives and interests. I recommend highly." Read more
"Finished this on Kindle a few nights ago. In general, I like the characters, the plot's interesting. Writing is pretty good...." Read more
"...The characters are fun and interesting...." Read more
"...The buildup was not too quick The heroine drawn just right All characters very well drawn .. Deserves a graphic novel sendup..." Read more
Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written, engaging, and easy to follow. The characterization is good, and the writing moves along at an easy pace. The graphics are visually appealing and mesmerizing.
"...with horror or supernatural themes, but in this case it's done very intelligently and has opened-up a new genre for me...." Read more
"...The writing moved along in an easy, readable pace...." Read more
"...In general, I like the characters, the plot's interesting. Writing is pretty good...." Read more
"...I recommend this for a fun read in between the usual fare. Nicely done." Read more
Customers enjoy the story's suspense and action. They find it an exciting mix of mystery and supernatural elements set in England. The book is described as a fast-paced thriller that keeps readers hooked until the end.
"...The pace picks up about thirty pages in and it's a fast-paced thriller right to the end. The book kept me intrigued and guessing right through...." Read more
"Set in England, this is an exciting and interesting mix of a police procedural and Ultimate Good v. Evil...." Read more
"...The plot is original and the supernatural elements not over the top - but close to it. I have already purchased the second book in the series." Read more
"The first in a three novel series, it involves mystery and the supernatural...." Read more
Customers find the characterization clear and enjoyable. They say the fight between good and evil is handled in a believable way. The story about good triumphing over evil is worth reading, but some feel the depiction of good and evil around us is not clever enough.
"...is an exciting and interesting mix of a police procedural and Ultimate Good v. Evil...." Read more
"What an excellent novel of good vs evil.. The buildup was not too quick The heroine drawn just right..." Read more
"...The fight between good and evil was handled in a believable way and the book was enjoyable...." Read more
"...Good vs evil was very clear but for me not clever enough. It would seem there is at least one sequel but I have not decided if I will try again." Read more
Customers enjoy the interactions between Allie and Michael. They find the dialogue engaging from start to finish.
"...Nevertheless, I enjoyed the storytelling and the interactions between Michael and Allie...." Read more
"...reading g this book, but it slowly sucked me in and made me interested in Allie and Michael." Read more
"absolutely fantastic book. Just loved the interaction between Allie and Michael. Kept me reading from start to finish. Now on book three." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2013Every now and again you stumble across a surprise packet and Fade to Black is certainly one! I didn't quite know what to expect from a book which purported to have supernatural elements mixed with a police procedural, but I'm glad I took the plunge. The pace picks up about thirty pages in and it's a fast-paced thriller right to the end. The book kept me intrigued and guessing right through. I don't normally buy books with horror or supernatural themes, but in this case it's done very intelligently and has opened-up a new genre for me. I guess the ultimate test is whether or not I'd buy another Steven Bannister book. The answer is an emphatic yes- I'm already waiting for the next one!
- Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2012The product description of this book promised an unusual read, and the author delivered. With the main character, Allie St Clair, a newly-appointed Detective Chief Inspector in the Metropolital Police, I expected a police tale, and got one. Most police-centered novels feature some level of police procedural activity, but this one spent more time in the paranormal. That had been promised in the description, and that, also, was delivered. Overall, as a police thriller it fell a little short of expectations. It didn't satisfy me as a paranormal thriller, too.
Allie St Clair was well done, as were most of the other lead characters. The writing moved along in an easy, readable pace. There was very little wasted space in the story, but, despite the very gruesome detail given for the crimes, the development of tension was lacking. There just didn't seem to be a great deal of urgency. The most unlikely part of the entire book was the characterization of "Mr. Black", the evil antagonist. While he was entertaining in his own way, I don't like to like the bad guy--especially when he is thousands of years old and supposedly more wicked than evil itself.
Editing was better than many of the books I've read lately, but there was one think that stood out. The first crime scene was just outside a restaurant. The restaurant had one name, then, from that point on, another name. Easy to fix, of course, and I hope it is. That is a rather glaring point.
The concept for this book is unusual, and, I feel, had more to offer than was given. A longer tale with stronger emotions would have made this more complete. In the end, it was a good story, but it could have been a great one.
Do I recommend this book? If you like unusual plots and battles against good and evil, I definitely do recommend it. But if you need a book to feel real" to you, you should take time to read the "read inside" feature and make up your own mind.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2012Set in England, this is an exciting and interesting mix of a police procedural and Ultimate Good v. Evil. The pace is strong and the author makes the appearance of angels and demons in the modern day consistent and interesting. The protagonist is not just a pawn, but is a fully formed character with her own motives and interests. I recommend highly.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2016Story had a way of drawing you into the lives of the characters.
Would recommend to friends with like taste for thrillers
Looking forward to reading more of same by this author.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2019Finished this on Kindle a few nights ago. In general, I like the characters, the plot's interesting. Writing is pretty good. It’s genre fiction, so you’re after some cheap escapism, and this fills the bill. I’d recommend spending the time and cash to read it.
It does need a better editor, though, mainly to hammer out continuity errors. And it is _yet another_ in the apparently endless chain of xtian-based urban fantasy—it’s in good company with that, going back to Dante, Milton, and whoever wrote Piers the Ploughman.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016This is an absolutely spellbinding book. I rad it straight through and then immediately ordered the next three in the series. The characters are fun and interesting. The premise is a cross between police procedure and fantasy (Angels, Demons and Cops with some romance AND humor thrown in - how can you lose!?!?). Even better - Mr. Bannister has a fan email account and not only answers his emails, but he gives heads up on new releases. I am chomping at the bit to get the next book in the series!!!
- Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2014I'm torn between giving this a 4 or a 5-star rating. Maybe a 4.5 (yep, it's a hedge). I really had no clue what to expect with this novel. I read mysteries, action/adventure, fantasy/sci-fi, but I haven't really read a combination of all three. I've also never been a big a horror story fan--for the most part; however, the summary intrigued me; it was free; I figured I didn't have anything to lose.
I'm not a fan of graphic horror and Bannister does an A-1 job of describing those bits. Despite not liking the visual it creates, I fully appreciate his manipulation of the language to create the images. Ick.
Every once in a great while Allie annoys me. There are times that she easily accepts what's happening to her, and I think she should be a little more skeptical--especially given her career. This is not a huge issue though. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the storytelling and the interactions between Michael and Allie. Michael isn't a pious prude as one might expect given who he is. In fact, given the whole nature of The Game and the cast, this novel could easily have delved into the "preachy," and it never did. Thankfully. I suppose the one thing that annoyed me the most was the fall-back excuse for keeping Allie ignorant (and thereby the reader) was "it's against the rules to tell." Just seemed too contrived.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2016What an excellent novel of good vs evil..
The buildup was not too quick
The heroine drawn just right
All characters very well drawn ..
Deserves a graphic novel sendup
Let alone a 4 part? Movie serialization..
Bravo!!!
Can't wait to read the rest of the series..
Top reviews from other countries
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Canada on January 10, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Found that I could visualize most of the characters. Story line held my attention. Could put story aside and not lose story line
Like the books, and would read this author other books.😂will be purchasing next in this series, I hope it is just as good.
- CaroleReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic read that keeps you hooked to the end
This was a really unusual read but very enjoyable. Although at times quite gory, it manages to combine a thriller with a supernatural twist. It kept me hooked to the end. The story is fast paced and establishes the key characters easily so you feel you know them well. A nice change from the usual police/ murder novels.
Not sure how the series will pan out, but I'm certainly ready to read more. Would be a fab novel to turn into film or a TV series - I can imagine how a good director could bring it to life.
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margaretReviewed in Spain on November 24, 2013
3.0 out of 5 stars fade to black
No me ha gustado mucho. No es mi genre, pero puedo entender que le gusta a la gente a quienes les gusta esta clase de libros. No pienso leer otro de este escritor!
- Gail Carrie LanderReviewed in Australia on June 27, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Most exciting. Would love to see it in a movie.
Thoroughly good read, I could not put it down. Excitement all the way and what an interesting twist at the end, Can't wait to read the rest of the series. Thanks heaps
- K. SiddiqiReviewed in Canada on March 28, 2015
3.0 out of 5 stars strange mystery
Did not expect this to become an occult novel. Not my cup of tea.
I did finish it and think it was an okay time waster.