Reviewed by Jen B.
TITLE: Don’t
SERIES: Don’t #1
AUTHOR: Jack Pyke
NARRATOR: Dan Calley
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2019
LENGTH: 13 hours, 13 minutes
BLURB:
“Don’t…bleed for me.” (The Unknown)
Saying “don’t” around Jack Harrison always did lead him into dangerous grounds on London streets. But now someone knows Jack’s head inside and out, and they’re about to twist all perception and lead him into an underground depravity that nearly sent him down in his youth. As Jack slips further into a dark psychological minefield, only two men offer different paths back to sanity: Gray, a man who knows Jack’s every dark thought, and Jan, the first man to show Jack a “soft lad” approach to head and heart. But with deadly games and ghosts bleeding through into Jack’s reality, it’s a fight to see who out of the three of them will survive long enough to find a way out of the vicious game played by someone known only as…the Unknown.
REVIEW: This series, which absolutely must be read in order, is at the top of my favorites list and has been there from day one. It is rare that I reread books, but I did not hesitate to do so here when they were re-released, and it was like falling in love all over again. My second review is here.
It is everything I love in a story, though it for sure won’t be for everyone. It is a psychological thriller with a side of BDSM and love (and a tiny bit of romance if you pay attention to see it). The characters are extremely layered and complex, each one in a different way. This is not the typical any kind of story, i.e. not the typical BDSM, Menage, etc. Jack and Gray share a long history, and to say their relationship is a complicated one would be an understatement. Their relationship works in a way that each of them needs, but it isn’t until Jan comes into Jack’s life that it all comes together. It is like Jack and Gray are stitched loosely together – secure but somewhat separated – and Jan is the one who tightens the string – closes the gap and fills in the empty space between each of them. There is mystery and communication issues, and Jack doesn’t find love and magically his issues are all cleared up and he is cured. They are human, and they learn the best ways to deal.
As for the audio aspects of this – Dan Calley is a new narrator for me. Given my love for these guys and this story, I was extremely hesitant to take the chance that I would be disappointed or that it would somehow change my feelings. I should not have worried though. I should have trusted that Ms. Pyke would do nothing less than find the perfect voice for her men. Mr. Calley brings these guys to life in spectacular fashion. Each and every character has a distinct voice leaving no doubt as to who is talking. He manages to capture the nuances of each, and I found myself waiting for him to trip up or disappoint in one area or another. I was waiting for that first “mukka” from Jack, and Gray’s “stunner.” Would they elicit the same emotions from me? Would he be able to convey the depth of feelings between Jack and Gray? How about how Jack falls for Jan – a vanilla guy totally on the outside of Jack’s world – or how it is that very reason Jack is able to fall for him? Will he show how Jan is so easily captivated by Jack, or more importantly, the effect Gray has on Jack and eventually Jan as well? Yes, yes, yes he can and yes he does, and I never wanted it to end. Mr. Calley brings us this story with such ease and comfort that it was difficult to not picture him as having a piece of each character in him as well. I know I won’t hesitate to grab another story if he is at the wheel, not doubting he will take me on another fabulous ride.
Fair warning though – these characters are British and Welsh and who knows what else. So, if you have trouble with accents, you might have to backtrack here and there to really catch some things. I found that it helped me to already know the story which may have contributed to my overall enjoyment of the audio. For these guys to have sounded any different would not have rang true, so I highly recommend you read the book if you find you are having any trouble listening.
RATING: 
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