Dead by Nightfall is the third book in Beverly Barton’s Dead by trilogy and the 13th book in the Griffin Powell series. It is really the continuation of Griffin and Nicole’s story. Their story started in book 8, The Murder Game. While that book ended in a good place there were hints of unhappiness between Griff and Nic in the last couple of books. Griff has been keeping a very big secret from Nic and in Dead by Nightfall the secret comes out.
Griff, Sanders and Yvette survived a horrible experience at the hands of a madman. Forced to participate in human hunts and perform for guests they all bonded in a way that could not be broken. All along Griff had told Nic that he and Yvette had not slept together but that was a lie. Not only had Griff and Yvette been forced to sleep with each other but they could have had a child together. Once Nic finds out about this info she leaves Griff to go stay in their cabin and have some time alone. The book opens up with Nic’s best friend arriving at the cabin to find her guard is dead and Nic has been kidnapped.
I don’t want to go into the plot too much because everything is a big spoiler. I will say this book was excellent. I didn’t think I would like it because I knew Nic was kidnapped at the beginning and why would I want to read a book where the main love interests are not even together? That was so not the case. It was faced past and edge of your seat intense. Most of the characters from the previous Griffin Powell book were brought into play in this one. Griff wastes no resources in trying to find Nicole. It is also a very long book at 416 pages but it didn’t feel that long. There wasn’t a single point in the book where I thought it started to drag or I wanted the resolution to come faster. Also we are left guessing as to whom the ultimate bad guy actually is. I didn’t figure it out until I was told at the very end!
There was one thing I didn’t like about this book and it pretty much something I haven’t ever liked about the series. That was Yvette. I cannot stand that woman. She has been cast in the role of the martyr but in mind, she is the main cause of all this turmoil. She hangs around Griff and reminds him and Nicole daily of her presence in his life and her part in his past. For several books I have felt if she just went away maybe Griff and Nic would be able to move past the issues they have. At one point, she is off trying to find the child they possibly had when all Griff wants to do is find Nic. She is selfish and self serving. Even the actions of “taking away” Griff’s pain do not work for me. Unfortunately, it seems that Yvette might have a book in the future. Who knows?
Beverly Barton passed away on April 21, 2011. I do not know if this was her last completed work or if there will be more books after this one. What I do know is that this could have been my favorite installment to this long running series. I will be disappointed if this was the last book she had written. If you are a fan of the series, I would highly recommend buying this book. You will not be let down. Final grade- A-
Rating: A-
Dead by Nightfall by Beverly Barton
November 29th 2011 by Zebra
Series: Dead by Trilogy , Griffin Powell
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About Jen
Great review!! I have always loved this series. This book had me all emotional. I agree, Yvette has always annoyed me and wondered why she just didn’t leave. But Griffin annoys me too. He can see his and Yvette’s past bothers Nicki but just ignores it or brushes it aside to think about it later. Almost everyone has told him to BE HONEST with her, he isn’t, then another piece of crap hits the fan. I’d have beaned him with a frying pan by now. Grrr. lol
I have heard that the next one was finished (early editing finished) and will be released. I certainly hope so. Not sure I can handle not knowing.
Thanks! I am glad I am not the only one that feels that way about Yvette. And I can see what you mean about Griffin too. If they had all been honest I wonder if this whole thing could have been avoided.
I am on the fence with the next book. I can see it being about Yvette and really I DO NOT want to read about her. I don’t know if I could do it.
Well, Sander was honest (to a point) with Barbara. More like Barbara accepted his past and the secrets it contains and they are far more content then Nic and Griff. I think the lack of honestly and the way Griff unintentionally flaunts Yvette in front of Nic is a big part of their problems. I can’t remember who said it but 2 previous characters in the book before this one touched on it. The guy asked why it was such a big deal for Nic to know everything and the woman replied-how would you feel if I invited a male, who I had some sort of relationship with that I refused to talk about, to live with us?
BINGO!
Sorry for rambling-I’m so excited to find someone I know who reads this series.
On the Sanders and Baraba topic- I was a little confused why they were apart at the end of this book. I know Sanders had to make that choice on the beach but he chose Barbara Jean, right? Did Barbara Jean somehow doubt his choice? Do you think she felt he still has unresolved feelings after that part happened?
See you are preaching to the choir here. I have wanted Yvette gone for a long time. I don’t give a flip about her. I have no sympathies with her. I was always invested in Nic and Griff and thought she was in the way. And now Nic and Yvette have supposedly made their peace? Whatever. Peace on your way out the door, leach.
Peace on your way out the door, leach. I
<3 you.
Everyone else I talk to is, "Oh poor Yvette. She means no harm. She is tortured."
Yea, whatever. Go be tortured somewhere else you hussy. kaithxbye
Wait, what? The hero invited a woman he used to sleep with to live with him but never admitted his past with her to the heroine??? What a dumbass. I would not be okay with that.