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    The Summoner
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    The Summoner
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    The Summoner
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Summoner

    Written by Layton Green

    Narrated by Peter Berkrot

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    "The Summoner is one of those books that make you want to turn on all the lights in your house and lock the doors . . . The settings are authentic and you can feel and smell the countryside . . . This is a wonderful read for those who enjoy both suspense and action stories." - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

    A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

    Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison.

    What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.

    Himself . . .

    The Summoner is a stylish, haunting novel of mystery and suspense that will linger long after its ending.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateDec 3, 2013
    ISBN9781480572102
    Unavailable
    The Summoner
    Author

    Layton Green

    JOIN LAYTON'S VIP READER'S GROUP (http://laytongreen.com/contact) FOR UPDATES ON NEW RELEASES, SPECIAL PROMOTIONS, AND MORE.  Layton is a bestselling author who writes across multiple genres, including mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, and fantasy. He is the author of the popular Dominic Grey series, as well as other works of fiction. His novels have been optioned for film, nominated for multiple awards (including a two-time finalist for an International Thriller Writers award), and have reached #1 on numerous genre lists in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Layton is also the co-editor of International Thrills, an online magazine for ITW (International Thriller Writers) that interviews crime authors from around the world. In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for the better part of a decade. He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door to door phone book deliverer in Florida, and the list goes downhill from there. Layton lives with his family in North Carolina. You can also visit him on Facebook, Goodreads, or on his website (www.laytongreen.com).

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    Reviews for The Summoner

    4/5

    15 ratings14 reviews

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    • 5/5
      William Addison - retired United States diplomat - disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bush veld of Zimbabwe. Assigned to investigate the Addison case is Dominic Grey - Diplomatic Security special agent - a product of a violent childhood and a well-worn passport. He is not typically a 'by the book, follow the rules' special agent - but because he is so well-traveled, and knowledgeable in the martial arts - Dominic has managed to keep his position with the American Embassy. Aiding in the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenology scholar and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison. What Dominic uncovers during his investigation is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a demagogic priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest sacrifice. Himself.The Summoner: A Novel of Suspense, is the first book in a series which spans the globe; whose protagonists investigate the world's most bizarre and dangerous cults. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was well-written and fast-paced, and captured my attention right from the beginning. I must say that there were several unexpected plot twists - at least for me - and the various cliff-hangers throughout the story had me literally on the edge of my seat.I give this book a definite A+! and look forward to reading more from Layton Green in the future. This story is certainly not for the faint-of-heart, and is totally thrilling and suspenseful.
    • 4/5
      This is a fascinating start of a series starring Dominic Grey, a embassy official in Zimbabwe with a dark past and a reputation of flouting authority. He is assigned to the case involving the disappearance of an ex-diplomat and is forced into partnership with two individuals with equally dark pasts and murky motivations. As the trio delves deeper into the ancient African Yoruba religion, they confront evil mysteries that are grisly and unfathomable. At times, this book almost becomes too macabre and disturbing but the fast moving action moves it along too fast to linger on these scenes. Zimbabwe provides a fascinating and chaotic setting and how the character interact with the culture and politics of the country adds substance to the book. I look forward to reading further books in the series. This book was a Goodreads Giveaway.
    • 4/5
      A mystery that had me baffled till nearly the end! What a thrill! Well researched, well written and a jewel to be found for this mystery buff! Excited that Dominic and Viktor's next adventure was on sale this weekend for inky $0.99 on Amazon! Going to dive in and enjoy more thrills from this latest jewel!
    • 5/5
      A crowd of chanting people, a leader in a red robe, a cloud of smoke, and Addison's girlfriend, Taps, who saw it all and who lost Addison in the crowd.Taps couldn't believe Addison just disappeared.....they had been to other ceremonies such as this, but this one was completely different....no one had ever vanished. The investigation into the disappearance was being led by Dominic Grey. He was being helped by Nya who he knew was smart, but who he also knew had ulterior motives for involving Grey. A religious cult was the main reason for the disappearance, but finding the leader was proving to be difficult. Nya needed to get Taps involved and needed her to tell them everything William had done and said and where he had gone in the weeks before the ceremony. Taps was fearful of giving information....she said they would come after her, but Nya said the information would help find William and hopefully it would. One piece of information she gave about a church looked promising, but that turned out to be a dead end. The investigation was beginning to become dangerous and was leading nowhere....THEN more bad news...another disappearance occurred, and it was a young girl.The second disappearance led Nya and Grey to a remote village where no one would speak of the disappearance or the missing girl for fear of the N'anga. It also lead them to a nightclub and to the owner who was quite dangerous and ruthless. Gathering evidence about the cult and their practices and why things occurred became more hazardous and gruesome each day.Nya and Grey’s lives were in constant danger as they got no closer to solving where N’anga was…they knew he was the one responsible but he couldn't be found.The book is gripping and has a wealth of information about Zimbabwe and its people, culture, and customs. There are a lot of twists and turns, horror, torture, and secrets. The vivid descriptions of the lush, beautiful landscapes of Africa adds to the book's intrigue. If you are squeamish, this book may be disturbing, and you won’t be able to imagine how cruel someone can be to another human being. Despite all of this, I am going to give the book a 5/5. Green is a masterful writer...he allows the reader to definitely feel the emotion and tension of the plot and the eeriness of the religious rituals some cults follow.
    • 5/5
      The Summoner is amazing. We are introduced to our new hero Special Agent Dominic Grey, of the Diplomatic Security in Zimbabwe, tasked with tracing a close friend of the Ambassador, who went missing in the middle of a Juju ceremony, in front of many chanting worshippers. The plot starts strong and doesn’t stop until its conclusion. Layton Green clearly knows Zimbabwe well and did some thorough research. The writing style is excellent and vocabulary is refreshingly precise without being affected. I loved it and will read the next Dominic Grey story, The Egyptian, very soon.
    • 4/5
      A dark novel where a Juju priest or Babalawo from Nigeria arrived in Zimbabwe and started to practice the rituals of his religion, including animal and human sacrifices. He was there to learn the true name of the Prime Minister of Nigeria where by he could, by the use of black magic, control the power behind the office. The hero in the book, Dominic Grey, is a military brat that was raised at military bases around the world, learning many languages while growing up. He also learned martial arts and weapons as a Marine Black Operative. The Marines wasn't everything he had hoped, for his ethic based sense of morality made him take offense at being ordered to eliminate innocent civilians. After a hasty discharge from the military, he stumbled upon a position in Diplomatic security. He was subsequently attached to the embassy in Zimbabwe. A friend of the Ambassador, Mr. Addison was missing after attending one of these Juju ceremonies. This story is thrills per minute and a good introduction to alternative religious activities in a foreign environment. The intrigue and clever deceptions the Juju priest pulled off while convincing the population and even modern men of the reality of Juju black magic is a lesson on holding tight reign on your beliefs. The different world the author invokes and the alternative belief system involved is reason enough to sample this book!
    • 3/5
      The Summoner is the first in the Dominic Grey series. Grey is a former Marine and Jujitsu expert working for the U.S. government and is presently stationed in Zimbabwe. A U.S. diplomat goes missing during a religious ceremony. His boss gives him the case. He's introduced to Professor Viktor Radek and Nya Mashumba and told he must with them. Radek is an expert on cults and Mashumba works with the local government. Grey's religious doubts are brought to the forefront in this case.It contains vivid descriptions to transport the reader to Zimbabwe. In fact, if you have a squeamish stomach you may want to skip this and read The Egyptian instead. Some of the voodoo rituals involved people, animals, and a flaying knife with meticulous descriptions. There are fight and love scenes so there's a little bit for every reader.
    • 4/5
      First Line: The only thing Dominic Grey knew for certain about the disappearance of William Addison was that it was the strangest case to which he had ever been assigned.Dominic Grey, a Diplomatic Security special agent in Zimbabwe, is assigned to investigate the case of a U.S. diplomat who has disappeared in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony. Helping Grey in the investigation are Nya Mashumba, a Zimbabwe government liaison, and Professor Viktor Radek, an expert on cults. The course of his investigation leads him into the dark and violent heart of an ancient religion, and one of its priests-- a man seemingly able to perform the impossible. From the moment their search began, the lives of all three are in grave danger.Although The Summoner got off to a slow start for me, the pace gained speed in the last half as did my enjoyment. Dominic Grey is an interesting character whose childhood spent living with an abusive father has made him reluctant to form attachments to others. Grey has a strict moral code that he refuses to relax for anyone, and that doesn't make him a favorite with his superiors at the embassy.One of the reasons why I found the book to be slow at first is that Grey is told not to do anything without Nya Mashumba's approval or presence-- and Nya's concept of keeping in touch and being punctual leave much to be desired. Professor Radek also disappears on his own business and cannot be reached. Since I have about as much patience as Dominic Grey, it felt as though I spent the first half of the book cooling my heels in a doctor's office. However, once Nya's motivations are made clear, the floodgates of plot and character opened, and I couldn't read fast enough.The setting of Zimbabwe was oftentimes heart-breaking, the ancient religion was downright scary, and Green's main characters of Grey and Radek are two that I want to meet again.
    • 4/5
      In this remarkable debut thriller by Layton Green, a security agent with the American Embassy in Zimbabwe, Dominic Grey is tasked to investigate the inexplicable disappearance of the retired head of Consular Affairs at a ceremony in the African bush. The political climate of Zimbabwe requires his discretion and a Zimbabwe liaison, Nya Mashumba and academic cult expert, Viktor Radek are assigned to shadow him. Their suspect is quickly identified, but he is not just a man, he is N’anga, a JuJu priest who wields power with superstition, terror and threats. Dominic must separate fact from faith if he hopes to stop him.This is a tightly plotted and well paced novel which shows the author has firm command of his craft. The mystery is carefully thought out with interesting twists that not only involve who-dunnit, but how-dunnit which kept me intrigued. The N’anga’s abilities are shrouded in ambiguity and I thought Green made the most of this to maintain tension. I was particularly fascinated by the information about JuJu, which I wasn’t aware was distinct from Voudou. The author has obviously done his research and cares about details.The political and social turmoil of Zimbabwe is an unique setting for The Summoner. Green comments on the decay and instability of the country but counters it with descriptions of stunning scenery and genuine affection for it’s people.Dominic Grey is an appealing protagonist and he will be able to carry the series forward. We learn a little of his background, Grey is ex- military, ex-CIA with a healthy disdain for officious authority but a strong sense of justice. He is intelligent and physically capable yet also flawed enough to be realistic.If Nya continues to be a part of the series I would like her character to be better developed, in this installment her job and her connection to the case has defined who she is.Radek has the potential to be a fascinating character, though we really only get glimpses of him in this novel I am intrigued by the hints at his history and his academic expertise. The pairing of Dominic and Viktor in further books should prove effective.The Summoner is an impressive read, the skilfully written thriller unexpectedly had me engrossed from the first few pages and I raced through it. Layton Green and the Dominic Grey series is one to watch.
    • 5/5
      A crowd of chanting people, a leader in a red robe, a cloud of smoke, and Addison's girlfriend, Taps, who saw it all and who lost Addison in the crowd.Taps couldn't believe Addison just disappeared.....they had been to other ceremonies such as this, but this one was completely different....no one had ever vanished. The investigation into the disappearance was being led by Dominic Grey. He was being helped by Nya who he knew was smart, but who he also knew had ulterior motives for involving Grey. A religious cult was the main reason for the disappearance, but finding the leader was proving to be difficult. Nya needed to get Taps involved and needed her to tell them everything William had done and said and where he had gone in the weeks before the ceremony. Taps was fearful of giving information....she said they would come after her, but Nya said the information would help find William and hopefully it would. One piece of information she gave about a church looked promising, but that turned out to be a dead end. The investigation was beginning to become dangerous and was leading nowhere....THEN more bad news...another disappearance occurred, and it was a young girl.The second disappearance led Nya and Grey to a remote village where no one would speak of the disappearance or the missing girl for fear of the N'anga. It also lead them to a nightclub and to the owner who was quite dangerous and ruthless. Gathering evidence about the cult and their practices and why things occurred became more hazardous and gruesome each day.Nya and Grey’s lives were in constant danger as they got no closer to solving where N’anga was…they knew he was the one responsible but he couldn't be found.The book is gripping and has a wealth of information about Zimbabwe and its people, culture, and customs. There are a lot of twists and turns, horror, torture, and secrets. The vivid descriptions of the lush, beautiful landscapes of Africa adds to the book's intrigue. If you are squeamish, this book may be disturbing, and you won’t be able to imagine how cruel someone can be to another human being. Despite all of this, I am going to give the book a 5/5. Green is a masterful writer...he allows the reader to definitely feel the emotion and tension of the plot and the eeriness of the religious rituals some cults follow.
    • 5/5
      This book is amazing! The writing in intelligent yet smooth and the story really grabs you from the first chapter. I would definitely reccomend this book.
    • 4/5
      Article first published as Book Review: The Summoner by Layton Green on Blogcritics.In Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, life is often difficult and fraught with danger and hunger. It is here that Dominic Grey finds himself, working in the capacity of Diplomatic Security. Often quick to speak his mind and not always the first to follow rules, he has bounced around on different job. Always a fighter, an expert in self-defense and a practitioner of jiu jitsu, he is not someone you want to mess with. After a stint with Marine Recon, he was later recruited the CIA, where he might be too much of an independent rogue who does what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. Though he may not always be the most political figure, Dominic Grey has been crafted by author Layton Green to be a superb character, one who engenders trust in others and someone to be relied on to handle most situations.In The Summoner, Layton Green’s character Dominic works with Nya Mashumba, a liaison to the ambassador, and Victor Radek. Nya, a tall attractive young woman, seems quite capable, but Victor Radek is the real surprise. At almost seven feet tall, he is almost a giant. His demeanor showed that he was used to being taken seriously. What brought them together was the disappearance of William Addison, a close personal friend of the ambassador. His girlfriend reported him missing, but the disturbing and almost unbelievable part was that he disappeared at a traditional Yoruba ceremony. The young woman was quite hysterical insisting he disappeared, while in a circle in the middle of the ceremony, in full view of everyone attending. He was in the circle, a sort of fog appeared, she heard screaming, and when the fog cleared he was gone.Grey is skeptical, Nya is introspective, having a secret of her own for agreeing to the investigation, and Radek is enthralled, his background deals with religious phenomena and how perception is often the precursor to many different alleged miracles claimed by those of faith. This is right up his alley. Beginning as with any investigation, by talking to witnesses and pounding the pavement the investigations goes forward.Following up on leads guides them to some very unorthodox characters. One name continues to come up, it draws dread and expressions of concern a horror when brought up during questioning. N’anga, who is it and what does it mean. It does not take long to begin to stir up the wrong kind of trouble and Dominic receives a warning, a very dead and desecrated monkey in his lodgings. Grey is not one to take warnings lightly, and he hunkers down even further, pounding out even the smallest of clues. Can he and his companions find William Addison before anything happens to him?When another disappearance happens in the same way, they need to step up further, to find the culprit behind this crime. When bodies begin to show up and Dominic himself is attacked, all bets are off. This has now become deadly, and he will stop at nothing to find the answers. But, can they find the answers in time or will they only find more bodies? Will Nya explain her actions and bring more trust to their team? The case is bizarre, and the ceremonies seem almost magical, can this group of individuals find the truth, and stop further murder from happening?This is one of those books that make you want to turn on all the lights in your house and lock the doors. You begin to look over your shoulder often to make sure someone is not there. It is chilling, yet strange, with just enough of realism to keep it spooky. The settings are authentic and you can feel and smell the countryside. Green does an excellent job at creating the vision. His characters are quite bold as well. Each has their own reason for being involved and together they make a fierce team. Trust is not automatic but grows throughout the story as each action unfolds. The flaws that make his characters human also make them real, and you get to know them well. Dominic Grey will be a character to look forward to in further stories.I would recommend this book for reading groups and book clubs; it is well researched and full of intriguing information. This is a wonderful read for those who enjoy both suspense and action stories. It is full of both as well as a light bit of romance. It is quite intriguing and has a very satisfying ending. This book was received as a free copy from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
    • 3/5
      It is impossible to turn away from the rituals of the cult and the depravity of its followers. Hidden away in the darkness is something worse than most people have ever imagined. Zimbabwe is mysterious, but grows even more so as the practices, fears and superstitions toy with Western thinking. For those who love plot-driven suspense thrillers, Layton Green will not disappoint. Good and evil are in continual struggle and it seems everyone has a motive to do both. The squeamish will squirm and the unflinching might twitch. It appears lead character Dominic Grey isn’t going away either – he’s only getting started.As I mentioned above, this is a plot-driven story and for those readers who like this approach they will be happy with The Summoner by Layton Green. However, when it comes to character development, the story slips. Character details are often described rather than revealed, which left a formulaic bitter after taste in my mouth. By doing so, I never felt attached or truly invested in the characters. Even when in danger or during horrific acts, I really did not feel overly concerned about whether they lived or died. Will I follow Dominic Grey to Prague? I’m not sure, it all depends if I get a deal on airfare.
    • 2/5
      Wow, this was a horrible book. Poorly written, bad characterization, droned on and on with no real point - I kept thinking it would get better but never did. The storyline had a lot of potential but the author failed to deliver. Glad it was only about $3 on Nook Color.