- Hardcover: 263 pages
- Publisher: Minotaur Books (27 Nov 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312361378
- ISBN-13: 978-0312361372
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 16 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,322,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
For years UN peacekeepers have been deployed to war-torn regions of the world, from Rwanda to Serbia, Congo to East Timor. Now it's America's turn. Samuel Simpson is a young, idealistic journalist from Canada, and seeking adventure, volunteers to become a records-keeper for a UN war-crimes investigation team at work in upper New York State. Months earlier, a crippling terrorist attack against the United States resulted in its cities emptied, its countryside set afire, and its government shaken to its knees. In the aftermath of this attack, a virtual civil war broke out, until UN peacekeepers arrived to establish an uneasy peace. While Samuel and his team travel through the New York countryside, searching for evidence of an atrocious war, he quickly realizes that death is quick to strike from any farmhouse, road corner or rest area. Even more chillingly, he begins to suspect that there is a traitor in his team, trying not only to conceal evidence of this war crime, but working to betray and kill them all ...Twilight is a gripping and shocking 'what-if' thriller from the master of the genre; it is a truly unforgettable read.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
Brendan DuBois is the author of the Lewis Cole mysteries and numerous short stories, which have earned him a Shamus Award and three Edgar Award nominations.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Don't be fooled by Amazon saying buy with Dead of Night. It is the same book only that it was sold in the US as Twilight! Crazy!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an unusual take on the "what if" scenario. In this the story is set in the US, which has fallen apart after a series of attacks and subsequent civil unrest. A number of UN teams have been sent in to search and record atrocities and key is finding a `site A' where it is believed a significant event took place.
This is uncomfortable reading, a small UN team in a Middle America which feels like a third world country. Amid the real danger and unrest, the team must do their job even when it appears there may be a traitor in their midst.
The story is told from the point of view of a young Canadian on the team and for the majority is a gripping tale. It has a slightly rushed end and one of the key elements of Site A is never really resolved but it is good story telling set in a very interesting environment. I had a struggle between 3 and 4 stars for this (mainly because it could have had a better climax) but I'm opting for 4 because I read this in a day and found it difficult to put down, and in the end that is what a good book is all about.
This is uncomfortable reading, a small UN team in a Middle America which feels like a third world country. Amid the real danger and unrest, the team must do their job even when it appears there may be a traitor in their midst.
The story is told from the point of view of a young Canadian on the team and for the majority is a gripping tale. It has a slightly rushed end and one of the key elements of Site A is never really resolved but it is good story telling set in a very interesting environment. I had a struggle between 3 and 4 stars for this (mainly because it could have had a better climax) but I'm opting for 4 because I read this in a day and found it difficult to put down, and in the end that is what a good book is all about.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Dead of Night asks the question 'what would happen to the USA if social order collapsed in the wake of a massive terrorist outrage?'. The answer, according to Brendan DuBois, is Balkan-style division & civil strife, with neighbour attacking neibour based on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any other perceived 'difference' you care to choose. Much of the violence would be coordinated by local 'Militias'; groups of civilian volunteers engaging in wanton killing under the banner of protecting the local population.
This collapse in civilised behaviour would then be followed by an uneasy truce policed and monitored by UN forces. War crime investigators would be despatched to locate evidence of atrocities committed by all sides whilst in the back ground politicians would try to negotiate some sort of lasting peace agreement.
In other words according to DuBois America, despite is military might and technological superiority, is socially only one short step away from descending into the sort of lawless anarchy seen in Bosnia in the 1990's. Whether or not you subscribe to that same belief its a fascinating idea with plenty of dramatic mileage.
Its just a pity therefore, that DuBois creates such a slight and insipid story through which to explore his ideas. Whilst the descriptions of rural north-eastern America in the wake of the recent violence are well done and evoke a suitably eerie and dangerous atmosphere, the central plot is weak. Centred around a disparate group of war crimes investigators searching for the scene of a rumoured mass slaughter of innocent men, women & children, it never really grabs the reader's full attention. The main character, a naive Canadian and former journalist through whose eyes the reader is introduced to this possible future, is too passive to be truly engaging. The rest of the characters are for the most part cliches there to serve a purpose in the plot.
The plot itself unfolds with a sense of weary inevitability. Even the 'twists' can be seen from some distance away. Considering how intriguing the central concept of The Dead of Night Is readers could expect DuBois to make more of it, exploring the wider implications of how America's sudden collapse has impacted the rest of the world. Instead he chooses to focus on one small, predictable story and restricts wider comment to a few asides about trouble on the border with Canada immediately post-atrocity and a few other small background details.
It leaves the reader wanting to know more but having to be satisfied with the limited plot on offer. To add insult to injury DuBois then closes the book with an open ended and comparatively down beat ending that is as unsatisfactory as everything that has come before it.
The book gets two stars for the concept, a fresh take on the 'post-apocalyptic' genre. It gets only one star for what it does with that concept.
This collapse in civilised behaviour would then be followed by an uneasy truce policed and monitored by UN forces. War crime investigators would be despatched to locate evidence of atrocities committed by all sides whilst in the back ground politicians would try to negotiate some sort of lasting peace agreement.
In other words according to DuBois America, despite is military might and technological superiority, is socially only one short step away from descending into the sort of lawless anarchy seen in Bosnia in the 1990's. Whether or not you subscribe to that same belief its a fascinating idea with plenty of dramatic mileage.
Its just a pity therefore, that DuBois creates such a slight and insipid story through which to explore his ideas. Whilst the descriptions of rural north-eastern America in the wake of the recent violence are well done and evoke a suitably eerie and dangerous atmosphere, the central plot is weak. Centred around a disparate group of war crimes investigators searching for the scene of a rumoured mass slaughter of innocent men, women & children, it never really grabs the reader's full attention. The main character, a naive Canadian and former journalist through whose eyes the reader is introduced to this possible future, is too passive to be truly engaging. The rest of the characters are for the most part cliches there to serve a purpose in the plot.
The plot itself unfolds with a sense of weary inevitability. Even the 'twists' can be seen from some distance away. Considering how intriguing the central concept of The Dead of Night Is readers could expect DuBois to make more of it, exploring the wider implications of how America's sudden collapse has impacted the rest of the world. Instead he chooses to focus on one small, predictable story and restricts wider comment to a few asides about trouble on the border with Canada immediately post-atrocity and a few other small background details.
It leaves the reader wanting to know more but having to be satisfied with the limited plot on offer. To add insult to injury DuBois then closes the book with an open ended and comparatively down beat ending that is as unsatisfactory as everything that has come before it.
The book gets two stars for the concept, a fresh take on the 'post-apocalyptic' genre. It gets only one star for what it does with that concept.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
His best since Resurrection Day.
I bought and devoured Brendan DuBois's Resurrection Day nearly half a decade ago and loved it. It ranks with Fatherland as one of the most gripping 'What If' books ever written,... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2007 by Peter Symonds
one of the best
I absolutely loved this book. It's been a long time since I stayed up till 4am reading and 'The Dead of Night' has managed to do just that. Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2007 by RD
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