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The Summoner (Dominic Grey #1)

by Layton Green (Goodreads Author)

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 223 ratings · 81 reviews

A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mas...more A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison.

What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.

Himself.

The first work in a globe-hopping series whose protagonists investigate the world’s most bizarre and dangerous cults, The Summoner is a stylish, haunting novel of mystery and suspense that will linger long after the last page is turned. 95,000 words (apporximately 350 pages).

"Favorite novel of the year so far." -- A Novel Source

"The Summoner is one of those books that make you want to turn on all the lights in your house and lock the doors . . . The settings are authentic and you can feel and smell the countryside . . . This is a wonderful read for those who enjoy both suspense and action stories.”
— Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“An awesome read . . . The writing is polished and evocative, the subject matter fascinating, the characters intriguing, and the pace non-stop. Spooky and occasionally metaphysical, The Summoner harkens back to The Serpent and the Rainbow in its ability to convincingly portray seemingly paranormal events in a realistic (and therefore even creepier) manner.”
— Blood Writes, Mystery Pick of the Week

“Wow. This book, it packs a walloping punch . . . What a truly original story this was.”
— Tiffany Harkleroad, Book Blogger and Amazon Vine Voice

“This is truly a captivating novel. The excitement travels from page to page and this is one story that will stay with you way after you turn that last page.”
— Socrates’ Book Review(less)

Kindle Edition, 332 pages

Published December 8th 2010 by First Ward (first published December 6th 2010)

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Jan 24, 2013 Bob Milne rated it 4 of 5 stars

With The Summoner, Layton Green introduces us to Dominic Grey, a Diplomatic Security special agent with a flair for unearthing dangerous religious cults. His story begins with the disappearance of a US diplomat during a Zimbabwe religious ceremony, but quickly gets darker, stranger, and more sinister with the secrets he uncovers.

Part mystery, adventure, and thriller, this is an exciting tale that grabs hold of the reader early on and refuses to let go. The physical descriptions of Zimbabwe are a...more With The Summoner, Layton Green introduces us to Dominic Grey, a Diplomatic Security special agent with a flair for unearthing dangerous religious cults. His story begins with the disappearance of a US diplomat during a Zimbabwe religious ceremony, but quickly gets darker, stranger, and more sinister with the secrets he uncovers.

Part mystery, adventure, and thriller, this is an exciting tale that grabs hold of the reader early on and refuses to let go. The physical descriptions of Zimbabwe are absolutely stunning, creating a unique setting that lends itself very well to the atmosphere of magic and mystery that Green has crafted. There are political, cultural, and religious elements to the story, all of which are so carefully blended that the glimpses of the supernatural are impossible to simply disregard. Early on, I knew the book could go either of two ways, with one leading to my DNF pile, and the other leading me here, to an enthusiastic review and recommendation.

Green's story is well-paced, with a generous amount of background information that never gets in the way of moving the story forward. Dominic Grey is an interesting protagonist, a little hard to warm up personally, but strong enough to entrust with carrying the rather ambitious plot. Fortunately, his partner/colleague, Professor Viktor Radek, provides more of a human element, allowing the reader to find an emotional attachment to the tale. It's not a pretty tale, and readers who are at all squeamish may find themselves tempted to skip certain passages, but it's a temptation that must be denied in order to fully appreciate the significance of Grey's work.

There were a few twists that I saw coming, and a few surprises that fell a little flat, but for the most part I was pleased with how things developed. Even when he truly surprised me, I never felt cheated or betrayed by the changes in direction. I was a bit concerned about how the story would end, especially since Grey's role in carrying the franchise erased any possibility of real danger, but the climax here really works.

As a self-contained story, the book works well enough to satisfy readers looking for something a bit different, but it certainly leaves a lot of potential for the books to follow. Given that it's the second book, The Egyptian, that originally caught my eye - I really only read this one because my OCD prevents me from jumping into the middle of a series - I was thoroughly relieved to find myself wanting more at the end.

Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins(less)

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Mar 08, 2011 Sibel Hodge rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! The Summoner is a chilling thriller - full of suspense, intrigue, and action. Eloquent descriptions and vivid images give you the feeling you're actually in Zimbabwe. You can taste and smell the country clearly. The writing was engaging from the first page.

I'm interested in Voodoo and the African version of Juju, which is the main premise for this novel, so I found it enthralling and couldn't put it down. If you're looking for a gripping read, you should definitely check this one out. I ca...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Blood Rose Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

In his debut indie novel, Layton Green takes the reader to Zimbabwe where the government is corrupt and a new old religion has reemerged on scene with dramatic results and even the corrupt government is wondering how much power this religion will hold..

Dominic Grey, has traveled the world but has never found a place that he truly feels is home, as his childhood was not one he would wish on anyone. He is currently station in Harare Zimbabwe with the American embassy to provide investigative suppo...more In his debut indie novel, Layton Green takes the reader to Zimbabwe where the government is corrupt and a new old religion has reemerged on scene with dramatic results and even the corrupt government is wondering how much power this religion will hold..

Dominic Grey, has traveled the world but has never found a place that he truly feels is home, as his childhood was not one he would wish on anyone. He is currently station in Harare Zimbabwe with the American embassy to provide investigative support and security detail for any of the embassy members. His is summoned to an investigation when an United States diplomatic goes missing while attending a African religious ceremony. However, Grey is forbidden to do any investigation outside of the Embassy alone, therefore his is assigned two partners. Nya who is the local government liaison who Grey is not entirely sure he can trust as she seems to be hiding something from him and she does work for a very corrupt government and Victor a cult expert, whom Grey just finds odd, imposing individual but odd. Grey has never been one to play by the rules, so forbidden or not, he search takes him to places through out Zimbabwe, with and without Nya, to discover what happened to the disappearing Untied states diplomatic and what Grey finds is nothing short of disturbing, shocking and impossible.

Green does a good job of describing the different African religions from this area, though I did find myself still a little bit confused around this topic as a whole (but as long as you understand the very basics about what Green wrote you will be fin reading this book). The part when the different religions is also when the books slows down a bit as you and the characters get a quick education and understanding of the different religions. This is some what needed within the book, however, it is slow nonetheless. This is also the readers first introduction to Victor who is a professor of religious studies more specifically a religious phenomenologist with an expertise on cults. Victor is an imposing individual, but you do not really get a sense of his true "power" until later in the book. I enjoyed how Green capitalized on Victor's dark past, to makes him more than just fascinated with the Juju religion.

As I have never been to Africa therefore, I have not been to Zimbabwe, I cannot say how accurate the description of the landscapes, street and people that Green has used. However, I could picture myself there when I was reading the book, and everything that Green introduces about Zimbabwe seemed realistic to me and not improbable. With an intelligent and sometimes witty writing style, that moves smoothly through out the book, Green is definitely able to capture a reader and with a plot that keeps the reader guessing, and full of suspense I don't think that readers today can ask for more.

Grey is a strong character, who have a black past and is always just searching for a place that he can call home. He does not like authority and wants to do anything he can to get the job done, and he is not above saying F*** You to the management if he believes he is doing what is right, especially if it is saving the helpless. I also liked that he had trained in a different form of marshal arts while living in Japan when her was younger. Green does a good job of showing how Grey's past has made him into the Man that he is now.

Green explores the psychological affects that religions can have/use on their followers, in this case the use of fear. At times reminded me of the witch hunt where individuals were willing to watch innocent individuals being murdered right before them and praising "God" the whole time. I think that Green explores this unique experience extremely well and it was a new subject for me to read about, which is why I enjoyed it that much more. Green also explores the psychological idea of the Mob mentality, where a Mob acts as one and an individuality is lost. This is where what an individual would see as bad in a normal occurrence, does not have the same thoughts while part of a Mob, they have lost their identity, the Mob is now their identity.

Green keeps you guessing as to who the N'anga is and who works for him. The N'anga is a very sinister individual,who Green did a great job of keeping the N'anga mysterious and only revealing information about him that the characters in the book are able to find out. This book is all about Suspense and keeping the reader and the characters on their toes. As Zimbabwe is a very corrupt political scene within the novel, Grey and Nya are unsure who they can, even each other comes in to question especially Nya as she works for for people who are not to be trusted. Zimbabwe has been corrupted by money and power, therefore, individuals will do anything to achieve them.

Okay the cover may not be that great (okay it really needs to be improved), but the book speaks for itself once you read it. I look forward to Greens next novel and the exploration of different religions from around the world, and how they have been corrupted into something that may or may not have been intended. Anyone looking for a Psychological Mystery Thriller and a New (and I think upcoming) author then this book is for you.

Enjoy!!!

Note: There are some gruesome aspects within this novel. If you are unable to read about animal sacrifice, torture or a child abuse, (though it is a slight amount of this last topic) then this book is not for you. The events are not overly descriptive in each of these aspects, but I still think that some individuals may have a problem with them.(less)

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Nov 06, 2011 1000 + rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yes, I did put TWO Five Stars up there. Let me explain why before I delve into the actual book.

I've given out Five Stars before on many different books. Five Stars, to me, means I thought it was a great book and I loved reading it. But giving Mr. Green's The Summoner Five stars and Five stars alone downplays how I felt about this book.

Dominic Grey is working for the U.S. Embassy and finds himself deep in the heart of an investigation involving the occult. Grey battles his own faith as he delve...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Anachronist rated it 4 of 5 stars

What I liked:

One of the huge assets of this book was the fact that Zimbabwe felt very real, with its problems, poverty, crime, inflation, fauna and flora, culture etc. Somehow you can always tell whether or not the author has personally visited and explored the country he/she is writing about, even if you haven’t been to the country in question yourself. Here the answer to that question was definitely a yes. I might not have a chance to visit Zimbabwe so I was even more eager to dwell on every t...more What I liked:

One of the huge assets of this book was the fact that Zimbabwe felt very real, with its problems, poverty, crime, inflation, fauna and flora, culture etc. Somehow you can always tell whether or not the author has personally visited and explored the country he/she is writing about, even if you haven’t been to the country in question yourself. Here the answer to that question was definitely a yes. I might not have a chance to visit Zimbabwe so I was even more eager to dwell on every tidbit about the local culture and atmosphere. It was an interesting journey and it made this book more original than the usual fare.

The premise was interesting as well – few authors bother with religion-based crime and cults because, let’s face it, religion is a sensitive topic. Even if you don’t mean any harm some people will be outraged/offended anyway. Mr. Green put an appropriate disclaimer at the end of the story just in case – a proof that he knows how delicate a topic can it be. Still he managed to balance things nicely, at least in my very humble opinion, bringing up interesting issues of the power of faith and boundaries of our mind. Well done!

The research on Yoruba religions and Juju was impressive, detail-rich and absolutely persuading, exceeding the usual standards of such novels. I enjoyed it as African folklore is not exactly a well-known topic, definitely not as popular as European mythologies.

The pace of the narration was as fast as I like, with several twists and turns; the mystery – not so easy to solve. I swallowed this one in two evenings and I liked the way it was written.

What I didn’t like:

If only the psychological portraits of main characters were more profound I would be very pleased indeed. Unfortunately they weren’t, despite the offered background. The book is clearly plot-driven, not character-driven and it’s a pity. Let’s say just this: most of the characters had potential which was left unexplored.

Dominic was a bit too stiff to be totally likeable, not to mention his paramour, Miss Mashumba, who seemed to be a classic case of an introverted little clam. I know, I know, she has been mourning her late father; still her pain was not so terribly acute to prevent a little romance…and do not let me start on baddies who remained cardboard-flat and ugly, every single one of them…on the other hand I do hope not all is lost yet, there is at least one more book available; perhaps I will be able to warm to Dominic Gray, his beautiful Nya and even the mysterious, and a bit stodgy Victor.

Final verdict with a warning:

For the second time I was surprised that such a good book didn’t find a publisher – the Summoner is certainly better and more original than the average fare I have had the opportunity to get acquainted with. I will gladly continue reading this series. If you’re in the mood for an intriguing thriller, give it a try!

For those who are squeamish about torture scenes: there are some parts of this book that might make you uncomfortable to say the least of it. They are not very bad, not nearly the worst I’ve read, but bad enough. Here, you have been forewarned.
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Aug 12, 2011 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

I haven't read a true mystery or thriller in awhile, and reading The Summoner was definitely an interesting experience. Not for the squeamish, this story takes politics, religion, anthropology, culture, human rights, and philosophy and shakes them up into a cocktail that's different from other stories out there.

Our unlikely team of protagonists are thrown together purely out of necessity. Dominic Grey, a member of Diplomatic Security, and Nya Mashumba, an agent for the government of Zimbabwe. Th...more I haven't read a true mystery or thriller in awhile, and reading The Summoner was definitely an interesting experience. Not for the squeamish, this story takes politics, religion, anthropology, culture, human rights, and philosophy and shakes them up into a cocktail that's different from other stories out there.

Our unlikely team of protagonists are thrown together purely out of necessity. Dominic Grey, a member of Diplomatic Security, and Nya Mashumba, an agent for the government of Zimbabwe. They've been asked to look into the disappearance of a minor diplomat. The disappearance would have been pretty much ignored except for the fact that this diplomat is well-connected and also disappeared during a religious ceremony conducted by a sect that the Zimbabwean government finds problematic, to say the least.

Hopes that the diplomat will show up at a secret girlfriend's house or befuddled after a few days' overindulgence are quickly dashed when Grey and Nya realize that the answers they seek are intertwined with the practices of JuJu, an African religion as complex as it is mysterious to Grey and Nya. They're joined in their investigation by Professor Viktor Redek, a religious phenomenologist, who provides most of the background information on JuJu and what its beliefs and practices look like.

This isn't an action adventure type of thriller- there are no car chases or anything like that. The tone of the story is much more cerebral and the details are revealed slowly and percolate for awhile before the next layer of the story is unwrapped. This isn't to say that the story isn't engaging- far from it, in fact. This is just a story that isn't afraid to take time for the telling, and the reader needs to pay attention.

The setting of Harare, Zimbabwe is almost a character in and of itself throughout the story. We as the audience are exposed to the corruption and poverty that permeate every level of society and we see it from the perspective not only of Grey, an outsider, but of Nya, for whom this is her native land. We see the destruction that greedy and indifferent people can wreak on a nation, and that large scale havoc is played against the small scale havoc of trying to solve the disappearance of one man. The note from the author says that this story shouldn't be interpreted as an historical account, but it definitely should make one want to find out the real story, such as it is.

As the story deepens and progresses, we learn that just about everybody here is keeping secrets, whether they be about the case or about other things, including both our intrepid investigators. I have to say, though, that the secrets Professor Viktor's keeping are probably the most intriguing ones, in a serious Agent Pendergast kind of way.

The resolution of the mystery was a surprise to me but tied up elements that had been introduced throughout the story thoroughly. The door is wide open for future adventures of Dominic Grey, and that's definitely a good thing. The unusual locale, the incredible detail and evident research that went into the story, and the story that isn't afraid to push the boundaries between the mysterious and the supernatural put future installments in this series on my to-read list for sure.(less)

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Jun 22, 2011 Grace Krispy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although it felt like a slow start, this thriller by Layton Green quickly picked up the pace until I found it difficult to put down. Where this book shines is in the details of the situations. Plot-driven, it’s full of riveting information that is at once grotesque and compelling. It was really interesting to read about the Yoruba religion and be taken into a foreign world with various tour guides (in the guise of informants and colleagues) along the way. When it got going, the plot moved along...more Although it felt like a slow start, this thriller by Layton Green quickly picked up the pace until I found it difficult to put down. Where this book shines is in the details of the situations. Plot-driven, it’s full of riveting information that is at once grotesque and compelling. It was really interesting to read about the Yoruba religion and be taken into a foreign world with various tour guides (in the guise of informants and colleagues) along the way. When it got going, the plot moved along quickly. Some of the plot events seemed a little surprising, however, and at least once or twice I found myself thinking “no! what are you doing?” in much the same way a viewer does when watching a horror flick where the young woman runs up the stairs instead of out the door. In spite of those moments, I found myself breathlessly following along as Grey raced to find the right person before the clock ran out. The plot events are well placed and help move the story along.

I was able to enjoy the characters in this book, but I didn’t feel I got to know them as well as I’d like. Viktor, in particular, was really fascinating to me, and I’d like more. Nya also had the potential to be really complex, but she wasn’t fleshed out as much as I wanted. Grey’s character was engaging while feeling somewhat cliche. There is plenty of background about his character to understand why he is the way he is, but the background was missing that extra element that really cements a character in my brain and makes me love him or hate him. There was plenty of information about each of the main characters in the story, but I wanted a touch more “voice” to get a better feel for those characters. I look forward to watching their development in the next book in this series and see how they are fleshed out for those readers. .

If you’re in the mood for an intriguing thriller that will introduce you to a dark and evil world, this book is exactly what you need. Although I found a few things I would have liked to have seen a bit differently, I enjoyed this book immensely and I’m looking forward to the next in the series! A great read.
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Jun 20, 2011 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Summoner, by Layton Green is an engaging thriller about a man named Dominic Grey who is working for the American Embassy in Zimbabwe. He finds himself investigating the disappearance of a retired head of Consular Affairs, William Addison. Aiding his efforts are Nya Mashumba, liaison for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, and Professor Radek who specializes in religious, spiritual, or cult phenomena.

The trio get caught up in a dangerous pursuit of a man known as the N'anga, a religi...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dominic Grey works with Diplomatic Security as a Special Agent. His newest assignment: travel to Zimbabwe to find the missing head of the Consulate, William Addison. Addison was last seen at a Juju ceremony where he mysteriously disappeared.

Grey is assigned to work with two other investigators, Viktor Radek and the beautiful Nya Mashumba. Viktor is a complete mystery and Nya is set on revenge. After another disappearance of a young girl occurs, they are led to a small village where no one will...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Murphy's Library rated it 5 of 5 stars

from Murphy's Library — http://www.murphyslibrary.com/ — rated 4 and a half there

Dominic Grey is an investigator that has been given a difficult task: discover what is behind the mysterious disappearance of an American diplomat. Investigating for the Consulate of Zimbabwe he never thought he would find such a result in this mystery.

The Summoner is one of the most well described self-published works I’ve read. The story is extremely fragile to tell, because it has to make the occult understandabl...more

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May 18, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Summoner by Layton Green

A country in corrupt decay sets the scene for a morally reprehensible Yoruba priest’s deprivations. This blackest of villains is on a quest for spiritual and political power. Dominic Grey, a security agent of questionable pedigree, is his only stumbling block.

Dominic Grey is certainly not the white knight but a more believable, emotionally conflicted hero. He appears to be a man with a moral compass that is undeterred by legal and illegal restraints. While he is not...more

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Feb 27, 2011 Al rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, read-2011

"The Sommoner" is the first in a series-to-be featuring Dominic Grey. A troubled childhood and a series of jobs including short stints in the military, the CIA, and now Diplomatic Security have given Grey a unique set of skills. His life experience has given him a distinctive outlook on life that is the opposite of what might be expected. He operates based on facts and his moral compass, the last of these being the cause of his history of short job tenure. Yet for someone so morally grounded Gre...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this on my new Kindle; it is the first full length novel I have read on it. I have posted previously that A.J. Pompano’s digital short story was my first use of the device. Overall, the Kindle is an amazing device and tool. I love it! Oh, yeah the novel by Layton Green: this was as much fun and just as amazing as turning the pages with the new machine. I don’t know which I enjoyed more. The originality of the novel, the narrative, the setting, the characters are just mind blowing, this no...more I read this on my new Kindle; it is the first full length novel I have read on it. I have posted previously that A.J. Pompano’s digital short story was my first use of the device. Overall, the Kindle is an amazing device and tool. I love it! Oh, yeah the novel by Layton Green: this was as much fun and just as amazing as turning the pages with the new machine. I don’t know which I enjoyed more. The originality of the novel, the narrative, the setting, the characters are just mind blowing, this novel rocked in more ways than one. Check it out:
“A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.
Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison.
What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.
Himself.
The first work in a globe-hopping series whose protagonists investigate the world's most bizarre and dangerous cults, The Summoner is a stylish, haunting novel of mystery and suspense that will linger long after the last page is turned. 95,000 words.”
The descriptions of the settings in Africa are just intense. Layton Green leaves nothing to our imagination, putting us right there in the midst of it all. I felt like I could smell the grass and see the different plants he described so well. The description of the novel doesn’t do it enough justice. There are so many different elements to this novel that trying to focus one just one or two elements of it is difficult.
The characters of Dominic, Viktor, and Nya are just a trifecta of personalities that I hope has a long and prosperous run. Green can go in so many different directions with these three that I don’t see them getting to be tired reading in a long time. I feel I was taken to school on the JuJu cult plot and won’t forget the different rituals that were performed anytime soon. Personally he gained a fan and reader in me; I can’t wait for the next installment to come out.
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Apr 02, 2011 Alexis Villery rated it 4 of 5 stars

What starts out as a routine missing persons case, erupts into an unsolved mystery that transcends into the past, secrets, and religion. Grey, who works in diplomat security, has been assigned to find The ambassador's missing friend and golfing buddy, William Addison, who disappeared into a fog at a religious ceremony in Zimbabwe. Grey is joined by Nya, a local Department of Foreign Ministry agent, and Viktor, a religious expert. They all dive further and further into the unexplained mysteries a...more

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May 29, 2011 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

A crowd of chanting people, a leader in a red robe, a cloud of smoke, and Addison's girlfriend, Taps, who saw it all and who lost Addison in the crowd.

Taps couldn't believe Addison just disappeared.....they had been to other ceremonies such as this, but this one was completely different....no one had ever vanished. The investigation into the disappearance was being led by Dominic Grey. He was being helped by Nya who he knew was smart, but who he also knew had ulterior motives for involving Grey....more A crowd of chanting people, a leader in a red robe, a cloud of smoke, and Addison's girlfriend, Taps, who saw it all and who lost Addison in the crowd.

Taps couldn't believe Addison just disappeared.....they had been to other ceremonies such as this, but this one was completely different....no one had ever vanished. The investigation into the disappearance was being led by Dominic Grey. He was being helped by Nya who he knew was smart, but who he also knew had ulterior motives for involving Grey.

A religious cult was the main reason for the disappearance, but finding the leader was proving to be difficult. Nya needed to get Taps involved and needed her to tell them everything William had done and said and where he had gone in the weeks before the ceremony. Taps was fearful of giving information....she said they would come after her, but Nya said the information would help find William and hopefully it would. One piece of information she gave about a church looked promising, but that turned out to be a dead end. The investigation was beginning to become dangerous and was leading nowhere....THEN more bad news...another disappearance occurred, and it was a young girl.

The second disappearance led Nya and Grey to a remote village where no one would speak of the disappearance or the missing girl for fear of the N'anga. It also lead them to a nightclub and to the owner who was quite dangerous and ruthless. Gathering evidence about the cult and their practices and why things occurred became more hazardous and gruesome each day.

Nya and Grey’s lives were in constant danger as they got no closer to solving where N’anga was…they knew he was the one responsible but he couldn't be found.

The book is gripping and has a wealth of information about Zimbabwe and its people, culture, and customs. There are a lot of twists and turns, horror, torture, and secrets. The vivid descriptions of the lush, beautiful landscapes of Africa adds to the book's intrigue.

If you are squeamish, this book may be disturbing, and you won’t be able to imagine how cruel someone can be to another human being. Despite all of this, I am going to give the book a 5/5.

Green is a masterful writer...he allows the reader to definitely feel the emotion and tension of the plot and the eeriness of the religious rituals some cults follow.(less)

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Apr 23, 2011 Charlie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie

Gems: It is impossible to turn away from the rituals of the cult and the depravity of its followers. Hidden away in the darkness is something worse than most people have ever imagined. Zimbabwe is mysterious, but grows even more so as the practices, fears and superstitions toy with Western thinking. For those who love plot-driven suspense thrillers, The Summoner will not disappoint. Good and evil are in continual struggle and it seems everyone has a motive to do both. The squeamish will squirm a...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Bigal-sa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

I enjoyed this story even though the “horror” bits were a bit gross and reminded me of something out of a Konrath book, rather than something scary. Other reviewers have mentioned that character development was lacking, I didn't find that at all. Rather, I found the character set a bit sparse. In spite of this, the author did manage to fool me as to who the bad guy was.

Formatting for the Kindle was of the best I have seen for a while, and the proof-reading was well done with only two errors that...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was an amazing mystery, dark, chilling thriller, with small bit of romance of romance thrown in. Incredible and diverse characters make the story even better. It is not a book for the light of heart, as it can be very gruesome, horrifying, and gripping. But the story pulls you right in and I found it impossible to put down!

Dominic Grey is a believable, emotionally conflicted hero who comes from a violent past and is an expert jiu jitsu, making him a formidable adversary. He is a Diplom...more This book was an amazing mystery, dark, chilling thriller, with small bit of romance of romance thrown in. Incredible and diverse characters make the story even better. It is not a book for the light of heart, as it can be very gruesome, horrifying, and gripping. But the story pulls you right in and I found it impossible to put down!

Dominic Grey is a believable, emotionally conflicted hero who comes from a violent past and is an expert jiu jitsu, making him a formidable adversary. He is a Diplomatic Security special agent who has been recruited to find William Addison, a United States Diplomat in Zimbabwe. The country has become corrupt, leaving large numbers of residents vulnerable to a depraved Yoruban priest’s quest for spiritual and political power. Dominic could never imagine the dangerous and deadly cult powers he is about to experience that will test his faith and beliefs.

He is teamed up with Nya, a local Department of Ministry agent, with her own mysterious reasons for becoming so deeply involved in the case and Viktor, who is a religion and cult expert. I found all of the characters to be very interesting and diverse. And other characters brought about in the book were equally interesting and mysterious.

They begin investigating the disappearance of Addison, who disappeared in a cloud of mist at a religious ceremony with hundreds of onlookers. Unfortunately, the believers are so terrified and such believers in the religious cult that they will not talk or reveal the identity of the Na’anja, one who summons, who is the leader of the Juju ceremonies held in remote places. These ceremonies are described in gruesome detail which makes you feel as if you are watching a movie and helps you understand why the participants fall under the psychosomatic belief of what they are seeing, which is described by Viktor as common in all religions, including those in the United States.

The three soon become the targets of the evil Na’anja themselves and will become the next victims if they can’t overcome their inability to discover the identity of the Na’anja. I found myself suspicious of each character but was completely surprised to find out who he actually was.

The story is just incredible and well researched. Green’s descriptive writing style is so well that I found myself thinking I could actually smell and feel the African scenery. I loved learning about the customs, cultures, and struggles of the Zimbabwe people. And Viktor was very informative of religious beliefs and I found him to be a very fascinating character.

This is going to be the first in a series of books and I am so anxious to read the next. Layton Green is a superb author and I have every expectation that he will become well know for his excellent writing and stories.

This book was incredible and I highly recommend it!
(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Mr. Green’s first Dominic Grey novel, The Summoner, is a dark, dark story and at times you don’t know which way is up. I enjoy books that take me to places I’ve never been nor never thought of in a particular way and/or take me out of my “comfort” level. It’s great when a book comes along that challenges the notions you’ve held and makes you think about entirely new realms of possibility.

When you’re reading The Summoner, you can get the feeling of icy fingers on your neck as you follow Mr. Grey...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, mystery, series, african-lit, noir, indie

Dominic Grey is a US Embassy employee in Zimbabwe who finds himself assigned to find out what happened to the Ambassador's friend who disappeared at a tribal religious ceremony. Accompanying his investigation are Nya--a beautiful bi-racial Zimbabwe government official--and Viktor--a religious studies professor aka cult buster. They soon find themselves deep in the dark world of Juju, not to mention the seedy under-belly of Harare.

Take Raymond Chandler, transplant him to Africa, update mores to m...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, book-reviews, fiction, horror, mystery, romance, suspense

Article first published as Book Review: The Summoner by Layton Green on Blogcritics.

In Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, life is often difficult and fraught with danger and hunger. It is here that Dominic Grey finds himself, working in the capacity of Diplomatic Security. Often quick to speak his mind and not always the first to follow rules, he has bounced around on different job. Always a fighter, an expert in self-defense and a practitioner of jiu jitsu, he is not someone you want to mess...more Article first published as Book Review: The Summoner by Layton Green on Blogcritics.

In Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, life is often difficult and fraught with danger and hunger. It is here that Dominic Grey finds himself, working in the capacity of Diplomatic Security. Often quick to speak his mind and not always the first to follow rules, he has bounced around on different job. Always a fighter, an expert in self-defense and a practitioner of jiu jitsu, he is not someone you want to mess with. After a stint with Marine Recon, he was later recruited the CIA, where he might be too much of an independent rogue who does what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. Though he may not always be the most political figure, Dominic Grey has been crafted by author Layton Green to be a superb character, one who engenders trust in others and someone to be relied on to handle most situations.

In The Summoner, Layton Green’s character Dominic works with Nya Mashumba, a liaison to the ambassador, and Victor Radek. Nya, a tall attractive young woman, seems quite capable, but Victor Radek is the real surprise. At almost seven feet tall, he is almost a giant. His demeanor showed that he was used to being taken seriously. What brought them together was the disappearance of William Addison, a close personal friend of the ambassador. His girlfriend reported him missing, but the disturbing and almost unbelievable part was that he disappeared at a traditional Yoruba ceremony. The young woman was quite hysterical insisting he disappeared, while in a circle in the middle of the ceremony, in full view of everyone attending. He was in the circle, a sort of fog appeared, she heard screaming, and when the fog cleared he was gone.

Grey is skeptical, Nya is introspective, having a secret of her own for agreeing to the investigation, and Radek is enthralled, his background deals with religious phenomena and how perception is often the precursor to many different alleged miracles claimed by those of faith. This is right up his alley. Beginning as with any investigation, by talking to witnesses and pounding the pavement the investigations goes forward.

Following up on leads guides them to some very unorthodox characters. One name continues to come up, it draws dread and expressions of concern a horror when brought up during questioning. N’anga, who is it and what does it mean. It does not take long to begin to stir up the wrong kind of trouble and Dominic receives a warning, a very dead and desecrated monkey in his lodgings. Grey is not one to take warnings lightly, and he hunkers down even further, pounding out even the smallest of clues. Can he and his companions find William Addison before anything happens to him?

When another disappearance happens in the same way, they need to step up further, to find the culprit behind this crime. When bodies begin to show up and Dominic himself is attacked, all bets are off. This has now become deadly, and he will stop at nothing to find the answers.

But, can they find the answers in time or will they only find more bodies? Will Nya explain her actions and bring more trust to their team? The case is bizarre, and the ceremonies seem almost magical, can this group of individuals find the truth, and stop further murder from happening?

This is one of those books that make you want to turn on all the lights in your house and lock the doors. You begin to look over your shoulder often to make sure someone is not there. It is chilling, yet strange, with just enough of realism to keep it spooky. The settings are authentic and you can feel and smell the countryside. Green does an excellent job at creating the vision.

His characters are quite bold as well. Each has their own reason for being involved and together they make a fierce team. Trust is not automatic but grows throughout the story as each action unfolds. The flaws that make his characters human also make them real, and you get to know them well. Dominic Grey will be a character to look forward to in further stories.

I would recommend this book for reading groups and book clubs; it is well researched and full of intriguing information. This is a wonderful read for those who enjoy both suspense and action stories. It is full of both as well as a light bit of romance. It is quite intriguing and has a very satisfying ending.

This book was received as a free copy from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material. (less)

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Dec 07, 2011 Joanna (J.F.Penn) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this book compelling to read despite the chilling and almost horrific scenes of black magic torture that made me "look away" from the page in parts. I love to be educated at the same time as entertained and this book delivered with its interesting background on 'juju' and Zimbabwe culture. There is a fast-paced plot and a new hero in Dominic Grey with his expertise in Japanese fighting martial arts. I like that he's not reliant on guns and doesn't seem to be a gorgeous chiseled-jaw hero....more

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Aug 20, 2011 Michael Parker rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I found Layton Green to be a very good wordsmith, and his grasp of detail and local colour was of the highest order. But as a thriller, The Summoner failed to take hold of me until possibly the latter stages of the book. I can remember as a young man reading Dennis Wheatley novels such as The Devil Rides Out, To The Devil A Daughter and The Ka of Gifford Hilary. Wheatley was the master and his stories of devil worship had me entralled from start to finish. Layton Green left little to the imagina...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Joe Young rated it 4 of 5 stars

A dark novel where a Juju priest or Babalawo from Nigeria arrived in Zimbabwe and started to practice the rituals of his religion, including animal and human sacrifices. He was there to learn the true name of the Prime Minister of Nigeria where by he could, by the use of black magic, control the power behind the office. The hero in the book, Dominic Grey, is a military brat that was raised at military bases around the world, learning many languages while growing up. He also learned martial arts...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Wendy Cantu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-and-mystery, supernatural, horror

Three-Sentence Synopsis:
Grey is a no-nonsense Diplomatic Security special agent stationed in Zimbabwe – mostly because no one wanted to deal with his non-conformist attitude but he was too skilled to let go. Teamed up with Nya (local government liaison) and Professor Radek (religious phenomenologist), Grey is charged with finding a U.S. Diplomat who vanished after a strange religious ceremony. In the process, Grey's launched into a world where the believable world of corrupt and criminal-run go...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Debra Chapoton rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a pleasure to read a book by an author with a rich vocabulary. Set in Africa and peopled with clear and vivid characters, The Summoner is a modern horror story balancing on the edge of superstition and reality. Praises to Layton Green for a well-written, intriguing story.
Dominic Grey works with a beautiful liasson to investigate the disappearance of a prominent figure from a "religious ceremony". Various leads wind around a desperate form of Juju that is led by a "priest" who amazes and ter...more

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May 16, 2011 Gef rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books

The Summoner is one of those sweeping thriller novels with a tightly wound mystery and plenty of suspense. I guess you could lump it in with a Dan Brown novel, a la The Da Vinci Code, but the one Dan Brown novel I read was interminable, and I've frankly been soured on this type of story ever since my first taste. Layton Green's offering, however, has kind of won me over to a degree, and offers a glimpse of what I could expect if I continue to give this kind of thriller novel a chance.

The story r...more The Summoner is one of those sweeping thriller novels with a tightly wound mystery and plenty of suspense. I guess you could lump it in with a Dan Brown novel, a la The Da Vinci Code, but the one Dan Brown novel I read was interminable, and I've frankly been soured on this type of story ever since my first taste. Layton Green's offering, however, has kind of won me over to a degree, and offers a glimpse of what I could expect if I continue to give this kind of thriller novel a chance.

The story revolves around Dominic Grey, a security agent who specializes with diplomats and other government entities. He is in Zimbabwe to investigate the disappearance, as a U.S. diplomat vanished during a secret religious ceremony in the outback outside the city of Harare. Aided by cult expert, Viktor Radek, and a gorgeous government liaison, Nya Mashumba, Grey has navigate the tumultuous political and cultural climate of Zimbabwe, as well as avoid becoming a target by a dangerous religious sect himself.

Aside from a backdrop that is fairly new to me--can't remember reading any stories set in Zimbabwe--The Summoner plays the supernatural angle very well, teasing there is more to the superstitions and practices of the cult Grey investigates. In fact, there is a miniature history lesson in religions and cults laid out in this books pages that thankfully doesn't come off as dry and dull. There's nothing worse than getting smacked over the head by a lot of info dumping, when it comes to subject matter than is likely alien to the casual reader, but Layton Green manages to find the balance and through Dominic Grey's eyes we gradually learn about things and the threats they pose.

The pacing is pretty good, building tension and plenty of proverbial road blocks thrown in Grey's way, though I found some of the dialogue a bit flat at times. Overall though, the characters come through nicely, and I particularly found Professor Radek to be the one I gravitated towards the most--probably because he was the expert on religious phenomena and offers those juxtapositions between the known and the unknown.

The climax is a very good pay off, in my opinion, and while it doesn't traipse into gory territory, there is one scene late in the novel where a person in essentially skinned alive that was absolutely gruesome. And, it looks like Green has his eyes on turning Dominic Grey into a recurring character in novels, as there is apparently a sequel in the works. Don't get worried about cliffhangers or unresolved endings though, as the book works perfectly as a stand-alone novel.

Thriller fans should be in for a treat with this one, and I'd say anyone looking for a suspenseful mystery with a relatively unique setting could find some real entertainment in this book's pages as well. Heck, even supernatural horror fans like me might want to take a chance on it, just to try something that is not their usual brand of reading. I'm unsure if I'll dedicate myself to the sequel and possible series of Dominic Grey novels, since I'm hip deep in so many series already, but I certainly won't count it out as a possibility.(less)

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Jun 19, 2011 Shy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, on-kindle, read-in-2011, genre_thrillers

Originally posted on The Bibliophile's Journal

It’s the year of 2009 in Harare, Zimbabwe. A Diplomatic Security Special Agent, Dominic Grey, is assigned to investigate a mysterious disappearance of an ex-US diplomat, William Addison, under the supervision of local authority, a government liason named Nya Mashumba. Earlier investigation showed that Addison went missing whilst attending a religious ceremony held in a Zimbabwean bush. With the help of an expert on cults, Victor Radek, they later fi...more Originally posted on The Bibliophile's Journal

It’s the year of 2009 in Harare, Zimbabwe. A Diplomatic Security Special Agent, Dominic Grey, is assigned to investigate a mysterious disappearance of an ex-US diplomat, William Addison, under the supervision of local authority, a government liason named Nya Mashumba. Earlier investigation showed that Addison went missing whilst attending a religious ceremony held in a Zimbabwean bush. With the help of an expert on cults, Victor Radek, they later find out that this ceremony was held by a movement derived from a traditional Yoruba religion, JuJu. This new version of JuJu has a darker side that involves evocation of evil spirits and ritual sacrifices that includes human sacrifice. As they get deeper into this investigation, they uncover more disturbing evidences that they believe to be related to this eerie movement. In this race against time, will they manage to locate Addison alive? And can they unmask the man behind this disappearance before they, too, become the victims?

The Summoner is a plot-driven, well paced novel that is full with intrigues that will keep readers questioning and guessing till the very last page. While reading this novel, it is very obvious to me that Layton Green has done an extensive research in the subject of Yoruba religion, its derivatives and also the life in Zimbabwe itself. He filled his novel with articulate, summarised version of this vast information in such concise yet detail way, which makes it easier for someone with little to zero knowledge about these subjects to truly understand the important part of this novel, imagine the situation that shrouded the country and how depressing it really is. Besides that, Green also managed to maintain the suspence elements throughout The Summoner by carefully organised the mystery, spice it up with multiple interesting twists that readers could hardly expect. All these make this book such an engrossing read.

Like many other plot-driven book, The Summoner also comes a little flat when it comes to character development. It is true that there are some descriptions about the characters, for example Dominic and Nya’s backgrounds, but they are often spelled out rather than revealed. This makes me feels detached from the characters to the point that I do not really feel much when something happen to them. There is not much that has been revealed about the third important character in The Summoner, Victor, so I really hope that readers will find out more about this interesting, intelligent man in the next instalment. Other than that, there is also a brief romantic relationship that occurs unexpectedly in this book that I find too rush and little bit unbelievable. I understand the author’s intention in not turning this book into love story but I think it would be nice if there are some explanations on their relationship.

In the nutshell, The Summoner is a gripping, gruesome and disturbing story that is packed with action and information. For those who are squirmish, there are some parts of this book that will surely make you squirm (Don’t say I didn’t warn you!). The pace, the unexpected twists and shocking revelations surely make this book one engrossing read.(less)

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Aug 12, 2011 Splash Of Our Worlds *Yiota* rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Summoner literally made my week. I was trying to read another book for 2nd time, and it was going really bad and i was in bad mood too. So i stopped and picked up the Summoner. From the 1st chapter i was so into it that i was reading and reading without noticing the time!

Layton Green's descriptions of Zimbabwe were fantastic! I haven't been there but he helped me see the place how the characters were seeing it. The people, the places, the culture and the life there..you can see them like you are...more

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Mar 10, 2011 TC rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime

I read about this book on another book blog a while back, and it has been sitting on my kindle neglected until yesterday. Fresh from a supernatural book about fairies I thought it seemed like a short-ish hop to bizarre and dangerous cults that embrace spirits and rituals.

When a US Diplomat disappears during a religious ceremony in the Zimbabwean bush there are hundreds of witnesses but no one willing to help the investigation. Dominic Grey works as a diplomatic security expert and is asked to in...more I read about this book on another book blog a while back, and it has been sitting on my kindle neglected until yesterday. Fresh from a supernatural book about fairies I thought it seemed like a short-ish hop to bizarre and dangerous cults that embrace spirits and rituals.

When a US Diplomat disappears during a religious ceremony in the Zimbabwean bush there are hundreds of witnesses but no one willing to help the investigation. Dominic Grey works as a diplomatic security expert and is asked to investigate with the assistance of phenomenologist and cult expert Professor Viktor Radek. Being in Zimbabwe they are only to investigate under the supervision of a Government liaison, Nya Mashumba. As Grey and Nya , guided by Viktor's expertise, find increasingly disturbing evidence of a cult at work they also become targets.

In the past I have read odd articles and pieces about voodoo and juju, as well as other minor religions and cults but nothing as in depth as this. The details of the rituals were graphic in places, not recommended if you get a bit queasy about gore, but I also found the academic perspective of how cults work, provided by Radek interesting.

Grey is a complicated character with a difficult past, but I found him likeable and not lacking in depth. Nya is a little more mysterious and provided a good foil for him. The book is predominantly written from his viewpoint but also from that of other characters in places, allowing a greater insight into each of them.

The story does cover some of the issues faced in modern Zimbabwe, and provides some interesting description of a country I only know a little about from the news, but it doesn't labour details of the political situation. I felt I got a better feel for the place than I had before, without lots of unnecessary information that didn't really progress the plot, it struck a good balance.

I found the book well paced and interesting, but my minor complaint would be some of the language used by the author. In places it was quite archaic and obscure, and I found myself using the dictionary far more than usual. Where the words related to specialised areas of study I didn't have a problem but elsewhere there seemed to be a lot of words used for effect rather than for the benefit of the reader.

Overall though this was a really good read and I'll be interested to see where future installments take Grey.(less)

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About Layton Green

In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for the better part of a decade (even though he still resents having cut his hair for that first interview). He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door-to-door phone book delivere...more

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