The Dark of Day

By: Barbara Parker

Narrated by: Elisabeth S. Rodgers

C. J. Dunn is an expert at spinning her clients' image in the media and the perfect lawyer to deflect police interest in Rick Slater, head of security for a U.S. congressman from Miami. Slater was seen at a South Beach party with the recently vanished Alana Martin, but in election season, any hint of scandal could doom the congressman's chances. If she succeeds, friends of the congressman have assured her they will arrange a spot for her as a legal commentator on a national media outlet. For a woman living alone, with few close friends, a celebrity life has its appeal.

When Alana Martin is found dead and C. J.'s investigator implicates Rick Slater, C. J. is slammed between the media and the need to defend a client she no longer trusts. Then he delivers a bombshell: C. J.'s daughter, Traci Willis, the child she gave up for adoption 17 years ago, was a friend of Alana Martin's. Traci has information that could save Rick Slater, but at the same time reveal a devastating secret that would put C. J.'s career, and even her life, on the line.

©2008 Barbara Parker (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Fantastic story!

I long have been a fan of the late Barbara Parker's Suspicion series, featuring 2 Miami lawyers, but only now got around to listening to her standalone novels. Dark of Day also features a Miami lawyer, but is much grittier. The main character, CJ Dunn, is far more troubled and complex. But she's also basically decent. Published in 2008, the plot would be believable even now in 2021, although some of the ending is a bit of a stretch. Still, this book is far superior to a lot of the stuff I've listened or read recently. Too bad Ms. Parker died before she could write a sequel. The narrator is good, but she fails to change her voice enough between male and female characters.