Darkness for Light is the third book in the Caleb Zelic series featuring private detective Caleb (Cal) who is deaf. It might be the third book but it is the first in the series that I have read. Whilst I found it easy to read and follow there were backstories to the characters I would have liked to have known more about and so I would say that it is best to read the series in order.

The book begins with Cal going to meet someone who made contact with him via email. He doesn’t know too much about the person, just that he didn’t want to discuss things online. At the meet point, it would seem that the man is a no-show, that is until a body is discovered. Turns out that the man was a Federal Police Officer and through no fault of his own Cal is now drawn into the investigation.

Frankie, Cal’s ex-partner, who in a previous book caused a lot of problems for him and nearly got him killed is mixed up in the investigation to the dead cop when her sister is badly beaten and then someone kidnaps her niece.

Cal’s determination to stay out of trouble and alive don’t seem to be going too well, but can he solve the case before another police officer’s threats to have him arrested for murder are made real?

As I began the book I knew it was part of a series and that I hadn’t read the others but I found the first few pages a little tough to get through as I didn’t know any backstory, or why Cal’s new motto was ‘to stay alive’ or even what happened with his ex-partner or his wife. Then I hit chapter three and the book came into its own and I was hooked.

Cal is an amazing character. His deafness brought a different aspect to the detective thrillers genres with his other senses heightened and a different approach to working with others due to his deafness, especially when he didn’t have his hearing aids attached.

Alongside the main case, which sees more officers being killed and a task force shut down, as someone is cleaning house, there is a secondary plot in which Cal is trying to help a friend who is being targeted and his restaurant business threatened.

The book is fast-paced. The chapters are short and the tension high, especially after nine-year-old Tilda is kidnapped. Who are these thugs and what is their main goal were questions I kept on asking myself? There was so much intrigue that I didn’t want to stop reading once I’d begun.

I am now planning on going back and reading the others in the series as I enjoyed this book so much, I need to see where Cal’s story begins.

Emma Viskic’s critically acclaimed Caleb Zelic series has been published worldwide and won numerous awards. RESURRECTION BAY won the 2016 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction and an unprecedented three Davitt Awards. It was iBooks Australia’s Crime Novel of the Year, and shortlisted for the UK’s prestigious Gold Dagger and New Blood Awards. It is currently nominated for the US Barry Award. AND FIRE CAME DOWN won the 2018 Davitt Award for Best Novel and was longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Award.

Formerly a classical clarinettist, Emma’s musical career ranged from performing with José Carreras, to playing at an engagement part that ended in a brawl. She learned Australian sign language in order to create the character of Caleb Zelic who is profoundly deaf. The third novel in the series, DARKNESS FOR LIGHT, is out now!

What did you think of Darkness for Light? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!