Review of Darker Than You Know

[Bertha Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Darker Than You Know" by Edward Minyard.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Twenty-one-year-old Sarah Spencer disappears from a resort in Cancún, Mexico, after responding to an Instagram message from a woman she did not know named Isabella Martinez. Isabella offers her $5,000 for a beachwear photo shoot that Sarah thinks will offset her travel expenses. Sarah's grandfather, Jim Spencer, calls his long-time friend and retired federal DEA agent, 74-year-old Rob Anderson, for help finding his granddaughter. Sure that she has been a victim of human trafficking, Rob gathers together his former team (many of whom are also retired) to rescue Sarah in Mexico. Will a group of older men be able to take on ruthless and dangerous human traffickers? What will they discover in Mexico? Why was Rob sure Sarah had been a victim of human trafficking?

The author of Darker Than You Know, Edward Minyard, who is a Certified Human Trafficking Investigator and a Board Member for Starting Point, a non-profit organization that provides services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking, wrote this book to "inform, enlighten, and enrage" readers about the despicable crime of human trafficking. This book successfully does this with realistic characters and events in the storyline. One of my favorite aspects of this book is how the author reveals how easy it is for a person to become a victim of human trafficking through online platforms, because every day, I see one of my friends posting personal information about themselves that could be attracting these criminals. I found it interesting to learn about cryptocurrency and how easy it is to manipulate payments you make online. It was amazing to learn how vast the Dark Web is and the different types of people who use it to indulge in their fantasies, not caring about the lives they destroy. The suspense and dangers in this book surpass many other books I have read in the crime thriller genre.

My only recommendation for Edward Minyard is to translate all the Spanish words in this novel into English. This is a personal preference because it may not bother other readers. Therefore, I did not factor it in when I gave this enjoyable and professionally edited book 5 out of 5 stars. My rating is justified because of the lack of any objective negative flaws and the many lessons readers can learn about protecting themselves from being a victim of human trafficking.

This book is for mature fans of the crime thriller genre and those interested in learning more about human trafficking, the Dark Web, and how to protect themselves. The book's topic and the non-borderline content are inappropriate for younger and sensitive readers. However, you would be doing these people a huge favor by sharing what you read in this book. Although there is minimal religious content, including Proverbs 11:14, nothing in this book preaches any specific religious belief, making it suitable for those of all religious and non-religious beliefs.

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Darker Than You Know
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[Neto Onuoha]

“Darker Than You Know" by Edward Minyard is a story of mystery that will keep you guessing what’s next. It follows an old man and his team of investigators who were called to help find his daughter who was allegedly human trafficked. Will they be successful in their quest? Read to find out more.

[kimarijohn]

What a book! This is a unique one, as "Darker Than You Know" is both an intense crime thriller and an eye-opener about the dangers of human trafficking. It shows how easily people can fall into traps online, which many face today. This book is not just exciting but it also teaches one how to stay.

[Seetha E]

It is good to know that the author chose this book as a medium to create awareness about human trafficking. From the review, it feels like a worthwhile reach. I hope the author can reach the right audiences to spread the indented message. Thank you, Bertha, for your crisp yet informative review.