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Awake in the Dark #4
Back in Black
The Awake in the Dark saga continues.
Back in Black is book 4 in the epic 5 volume paranormal suspense series. New to the series? Get the first three books here: amazon.com/dp/B00W8FZUKU
The events of Red on the Inside (Awake in the Dark #3) leave Grobnagger hurt and angry. He hides out in a crappy motel where he plods through the days fantasizing about vengeance, picturing himself murdering Farber over and over again. The seizures start up again, too, and he finds himself returning to the alley.
When his enemies make a move to give themselves the upper hand once more, however, he finds himself in a tough spot. Will he sacrifice himself to save a friend? Are the trips to the alley trying to teach him a lesson, or is it all meaningless?
What readers are saying about Back in Black:
"Depth, humor, action, Skittles and bad shag carpet – What more can I ask for?" - M.K. Darcy, author of La Petite Mort
"Back in Black is my favorite of the series so far! Grobnagger’s journey just keeps getting better and better, and the authors continue to amaze me with their visual depictions and the way they can turn a phrase." - Heather DiAngelis
"Deeply metaphysical, and mentally humbling, this story has turned my brain to goo. This is a must-read for anyone who loves cerebral fantasy!" - Liza Robbins
Praise for the Awake in the Dark series:
"Fade to Black is the funniest book I've read in... I can't remember how long. Seriously funny. I think I laughed out loud roughly once every three pages. That's a lot of funny packed into one book! And not just an internal chuckle here and there, but an honest to goodness laugh out loud that made my significant other call, 'What?' from the next room repeatedly." - Lisbeth Ames
"(FADE TO BLACK) weirdly resonates with me. It is sneaky in a way – it holds the things we fear up to the light – opening the reader up to honesty – to love and hope and the truths of our souls found in the darkest of nights. It’s weird and dark and twisted – and real. And I recommend the trip." - Leiah Cooper, SoIReadThisBookToday.com
"Buy it, read it, laugh your butt off over it and trust me you’ll likely love the heck out of this book." - Horror Chick, agirlsguidetohorror.com
"I don't normally give five stars, but "Fade to Black" gets five stars from me for one reason: I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time. As I mentioned earlier, I am eagerly awaiting the second novel in the series, because I have to see what happens. It kind of reminds me of the feeling I got the first time I watched Lost, the TV series. It feels like my eyes have been opened to a universe of possibilities, and I cannot wait to see how McBain and Vargus explore that world." - E. Branden Hart, emptysinkpublishing.com
"Grobnagger's narration is hilarious. There are going to be times while reading this that you find yourself laughing even while he's breaking your heart." - eden Hudson, author of HALO BOUND
"Chuck Palahniuk (crossed with) the Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series." - Drunkle Dan, The Drunken Beardsmen podcast
Awake in the Dark series ebook categories:
-Paranormal Suspense series
-Psychological Horror
-Psychological Thriller
-Occult Horror
-Metaphysical Fiction
Back in Black is book 4 in the epic 5 volume paranormal suspense series. New to the series? Get the first three books here: amazon.com/dp/B00W8FZUKU
The events of Red on the Inside (Awake in the Dark #3) leave Grobnagger hurt and angry. He hides out in a crappy motel where he plods through the days fantasizing about vengeance, picturing himself murdering Farber over and over again. The seizures start up again, too, and he finds himself returning to the alley.
When his enemies make a move to give themselves the upper hand once more, however, he finds himself in a tough spot. Will he sacrifice himself to save a friend? Are the trips to the alley trying to teach him a lesson, or is it all meaningless?
What readers are saying about Back in Black:
"Depth, humor, action, Skittles and bad shag carpet – What more can I ask for?" - M.K. Darcy, author of La Petite Mort
"Back in Black is my favorite of the series so far! Grobnagger’s journey just keeps getting better and better, and the authors continue to amaze me with their visual depictions and the way they can turn a phrase." - Heather DiAngelis
"Deeply metaphysical, and mentally humbling, this story has turned my brain to goo. This is a must-read for anyone who loves cerebral fantasy!" - Liza Robbins
Praise for the Awake in the Dark series:
"Fade to Black is the funniest book I've read in... I can't remember how long. Seriously funny. I think I laughed out loud roughly once every three pages. That's a lot of funny packed into one book! And not just an internal chuckle here and there, but an honest to goodness laugh out loud that made my significant other call, 'What?' from the next room repeatedly." - Lisbeth Ames
"(FADE TO BLACK) weirdly resonates with me. It is sneaky in a way – it holds the things we fear up to the light – opening the reader up to honesty – to love and hope and the truths of our souls found in the darkest of nights. It’s weird and dark and twisted – and real. And I recommend the trip." - Leiah Cooper, SoIReadThisBookToday.com
"Buy it, read it, laugh your butt off over it and trust me you’ll likely love the heck out of this book." - Horror Chick, agirlsguidetohorror.com
"I don't normally give five stars, but "Fade to Black" gets five stars from me for one reason: I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time. As I mentioned earlier, I am eagerly awaiting the second novel in the series, because I have to see what happens. It kind of reminds me of the feeling I got the first time I watched Lost, the TV series. It feels like my eyes have been opened to a universe of possibilities, and I cannot wait to see how McBain and Vargus explore that world." - E. Branden Hart, emptysinkpublishing.com
"Grobnagger's narration is hilarious. There are going to be times while reading this that you find yourself laughing even while he's breaking your heart." - eden Hudson, author of HALO BOUND
"Chuck Palahniuk (crossed with) the Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series." - Drunkle Dan, The Drunken Beardsmen podcast
Awake in the Dark series ebook categories:
-Paranormal Suspense series
-Psychological Horror
-Psychological Thriller
-Occult Horror
-Metaphysical Fiction
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2015
87 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 8, 2015
"I realize that in many ways, I had remained a child all this time. A wounded child, unable to heal, unable to grow. Stuck that way. But the world obliged me the only way it knows how. It bludgeoned me and burned me and kicked me in the teeth. It bloodied me. It made a man out of me after all. A desperate man, yes, but a man all the same."
This paragraph from Back in Black perfectly encompasses everything that's happened so far in Grobnagger's story and deposits us where we are now: Grobs is a desperate man, thirsty for revenge, willing to go to any lengths to kill Farber. Oh, and being mysteriously slingshot back into those crazy seizures. Which probably means something important, but... Well, you know how Grobnagger is.
In a lot of ways, this book is much darker than the previous three. Grobs's trademark humor is still there, but it's a thin veneer now, his frustration and anger palpable underneath. Every sentence makes you feel like you're hurtling toward inevitable darkness alongside him. It'll make you cringe at times and overwhelm you with foreboding at others. And if you've come to love the guy as much as I have, then this new, reckless version of him is really going to worry you.
The thing with Vargus & McBain's stories is that they never lead you where you think they're going to. They take you down paths you don't see coming, but once you're there, you realize there was never anywhere else the story could have gone. When you get to the end of Back in Black, you'll realize this was always the only way it could have ended. This was where it was always leading. Now it's up to you and Grobs to try to live with it.
Oh, last thing--the ending. I know I've fawned over Vargus & McBain's endings in the past, but this one was amazing! I've never felt nauseous reading a book before, but the last few chapters made me sick to my stomach. It's awesome!
This paragraph from Back in Black perfectly encompasses everything that's happened so far in Grobnagger's story and deposits us where we are now: Grobs is a desperate man, thirsty for revenge, willing to go to any lengths to kill Farber. Oh, and being mysteriously slingshot back into those crazy seizures. Which probably means something important, but... Well, you know how Grobnagger is.
In a lot of ways, this book is much darker than the previous three. Grobs's trademark humor is still there, but it's a thin veneer now, his frustration and anger palpable underneath. Every sentence makes you feel like you're hurtling toward inevitable darkness alongside him. It'll make you cringe at times and overwhelm you with foreboding at others. And if you've come to love the guy as much as I have, then this new, reckless version of him is really going to worry you.
The thing with Vargus & McBain's stories is that they never lead you where you think they're going to. They take you down paths you don't see coming, but once you're there, you realize there was never anywhere else the story could have gone. When you get to the end of Back in Black, you'll realize this was always the only way it could have ended. This was where it was always leading. Now it's up to you and Grobs to try to live with it.
Oh, last thing--the ending. I know I've fawned over Vargus & McBain's endings in the past, but this one was amazing! I've never felt nauseous reading a book before, but the last few chapters made me sick to my stomach. It's awesome!
June 7, 2015
I received an advanced review copy of this book and had trouble putting it down.
Back in Black is my favorite of the series so far! Grobnagger’s journey just keeps getting better and better, and the authors continue to amaze me with their visual depictions and the way they can turn a phrase. I love the suspense in this book; the reader doesn’t always know what Grobnagger knows or what he plans to do, and that makes it even more exciting. I will definitely keep reading!
Back in Black is my favorite of the series so far! Grobnagger’s journey just keeps getting better and better, and the authors continue to amaze me with their visual depictions and the way they can turn a phrase. I love the suspense in this book; the reader doesn’t always know what Grobnagger knows or what he plans to do, and that makes it even more exciting. I will definitely keep reading!
March 21, 2016
I reserve the right to change this to 5 stars after I read the next installment because you never know when things will get explained and then suddenly make sense.
September 2, 2021
Better than the last one
The pace has picked up again here and thank goodness it did as I really do want to finish the whole series of books to find the answers but it was a bit tough going there for a while…it was still good but I think just really slow for a while and I did struggle I admit. But this one kept me more interested once it got going. I’m actually looking forward to the next and last book in the series now.
The pace has picked up again here and thank goodness it did as I really do want to finish the whole series of books to find the answers but it was a bit tough going there for a while…it was still good but I think just really slow for a while and I did struggle I admit. But this one kept me more interested once it got going. I’m actually looking forward to the next and last book in the series now.
September 29, 2017
I can't wait to read book five! I can't wait to see what happens! Read this series if you like lots of fear and pain and horror and comedy and deep thoughts and mystery. These books have all of the above. They're somehow funny and sad and scary and mysterious all at once. Very good.
March 13, 2018
Better, But Still Incomplete
Enjoyed this one more than Book 3, but like all the preceding books, it still doesn't exactly provide a full conclusion -- though it does come closer than any of the others.
Enjoyed this one more than Book 3, but like all the preceding books, it still doesn't exactly provide a full conclusion -- though it does come closer than any of the others.
August 10, 2018
Great read
Very funny and clever
I enjoyed the whole series so far
I am looking forward to reading the last book
Very funny and clever
I enjoyed the whole series so far
I am looking forward to reading the last book
January 22, 2017
On the hunt for retribution
Back in Black, book 4 in the Awake in the Dark series by Tim McBain and LT Vargus, continues the saga of Jeff Grobnagger. Some time has passed since Glenn’s murder at the hands of Riston Farber and company in the astral plane and Jeff has effectively gone into hiding. Subsisting on a steady diet of vending machine junk and warm RC Colas, Jeff hides out in a rundown motel plotting revenge against his nemesis. When not brooding over his warm soda and stale Doritos, Jeff goes into “stalker mode” and drives around town attempting to locate Farber and kill him. With his only companion during this time being Ms. Babineaux, Jeff finds himself in a dark place filled with rage and obsession. When Babineaux is abducted by Farber, Jeff decides that it is time to end this thing for better or worse, once and for all. Either Farber dies or Jeff will, but he will not go down without a fight.
Wow! For all my disappointment at Jeff for not going after Farber in Red on the Inside, Back in Black makes up for it in spades. Jeff is determined, paranoid and a bit psycho. Still reeling at the brutal loss of what was most likely his only friend, having to cope with life without him and being on the run from Farber and whatever crazy sadistic end he has planned for him Jeff really has a lot to deal with in this one. Truly parts of this were difficult to read as Jeff sinks deeper and deeper into a revenge fueled depression. Even his visits with Amity seem to do nothing but make things that much worse. As they grow closer, this closeness is hindered by them being part of two very separate worlds. Can this kid ever get a break?! I think I tore through this book in a little under two days, it was just that good. And the ending had me reaching for the final installment to find out how this rollercoaster story will end.
Back in Black, book 4 in the Awake in the Dark series by Tim McBain and LT Vargus, continues the saga of Jeff Grobnagger. Some time has passed since Glenn’s murder at the hands of Riston Farber and company in the astral plane and Jeff has effectively gone into hiding. Subsisting on a steady diet of vending machine junk and warm RC Colas, Jeff hides out in a rundown motel plotting revenge against his nemesis. When not brooding over his warm soda and stale Doritos, Jeff goes into “stalker mode” and drives around town attempting to locate Farber and kill him. With his only companion during this time being Ms. Babineaux, Jeff finds himself in a dark place filled with rage and obsession. When Babineaux is abducted by Farber, Jeff decides that it is time to end this thing for better or worse, once and for all. Either Farber dies or Jeff will, but he will not go down without a fight.
Wow! For all my disappointment at Jeff for not going after Farber in Red on the Inside, Back in Black makes up for it in spades. Jeff is determined, paranoid and a bit psycho. Still reeling at the brutal loss of what was most likely his only friend, having to cope with life without him and being on the run from Farber and whatever crazy sadistic end he has planned for him Jeff really has a lot to deal with in this one. Truly parts of this were difficult to read as Jeff sinks deeper and deeper into a revenge fueled depression. Even his visits with Amity seem to do nothing but make things that much worse. As they grow closer, this closeness is hindered by them being part of two very separate worlds. Can this kid ever get a break?! I think I tore through this book in a little under two days, it was just that good. And the ending had me reaching for the final installment to find out how this rollercoaster story will end.
July 30, 2015
Back In Black is book four in the Grobnagger Chronicles. It is a little different than the earlier books. But you still get humor and plenty of action. Farber and his Minions ares till after Jeff in a big way. Will he manage to kill Farber? Or will he have to stay running and hiding for the rest of his life!
April 8, 2016
Okay there is a humorous side, there is a creepy side and then there is the paranormal side. I'm not sure where the fifth book is going, but the mystery is keeping me reading. It kind of reminds of Dean Koontz books. If you are into these kinds of books then it is worth the read.
December 6, 2015
What?!?!
He found her, and she's not exactly happy about it at first. This one moves the story along, but makes you want to know more, and more, and more!
He found her, and she's not exactly happy about it at first. This one moves the story along, but makes you want to know more, and more, and more!
February 6, 2016
Mrrrrr. This was disappointing compared to the first three. Hope the next is better.
February 26, 2016
I loved the gory details in the end but there wasn't any resolve/answers just like the other books of the series.
September 18, 2020
Definitely not my favorite of the 4 but that ending tho! Can't wait to start the last one!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews