What if you found a way to cheat death? How far would you go to protect the secret?
Jamie’s comfortable life is shattered by the suicide of his best friend, Nick, and a brief affair with the mysterious Renata. Why did Nick die? Why did Renata abandon him?
Jamie seeks solace with his ex, Caroline, and they decide to try for a baby. But failure to conceive leads them to an exclusive fertility clinic. Here, they are offered hope – a free IVF cycle if they agree to trial a new drug.
Twenty years later, data scientist Millie makes a startling discovery, connecting the events that uprooted Jamie’s life. And, if the secret’s exposed, it will shock the world.
Jamie is haunted by ghosts from his past and echoes from the future. But answers are tantalisingly close. However, to find them, he puts everything he holds dear in peril.
Set in Gothic North Yorkshire, Dark Swans is a story of love, guilt, betrayal and deception. If you like jaw-dropping plot twists, authentic characters and romance with a hint of the supernatural, then you’ll love Stephen Jackson’s new techno-thriller.
What if you found a way to cheat death? How far would you go to protect the secret?
Jamie’s comfortable life is shattered by the suicide of his best friend, Nick, and a brief affair with the mysterious Renata. Why did Nick die? Why did Renata abandon him?
Jamie seeks solace with his ex, Caroline, and they decide to try for a baby. But failure to conceive leads them to an exclusive fertility clinic. Here, they are offered hope – a free IVF cycle if they agree to trial a new drug.
Twenty years later, data scientist Millie makes a startling discovery, connecting the events that uprooted Jamie’s life. And, if the secret’s exposed, it will shock the world.
Jamie is haunted by ghosts from his past and echoes from the future. But answers are tantalisingly close. However, to find them, he puts everything he holds dear in peril.
Set in Gothic North Yorkshire, Dark Swans is a story of love, guilt, betrayal and deception. If you like jaw-dropping plot twists, authentic characters and romance with a hint of the supernatural, then you’ll love Stephen Jackson’s new techno-thriller.
When the fortune-telling machine proclaimed, ‘An untimely ending will usher a divine beginning,’ little could Albert Taylor have grasped the significance of its prophecy. But within twenty-four hours, his life would change forever.
Albert’s granddaughter, Chloe, giggled as the animatronic soothsayer froze and whirred back to life. Its glowing eyes and luminous crystal ball sought to lure further gullible holidaymakers to part with their cash.
‘What does she mean, Grampy?’ Chloe asked.
‘I’ve no idea,’ said Albert as he mopped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. ‘It’s all nonsense anyway.’
Chloe’s dad, Paul, interjected, ‘Why don’t we find somewhere more fun to spend your pocket money, Darling?’
Chloe scanned the fairground and focused on a stall near the entrance. ‘Can Grampy win me a Womble, please?’ She signalled towards a shooting gallery with a jumble of cuddly toys dangling from the roof.
‘Why don’t we give your daddy a chance to earn you a prize this time?’ Albert replied.
Paul pointed the air rifle at a row of 5-inch tall, metal soldier silhouettes. He fired. Nothing. The soldier figures remained stubbornly still. Albert groaned and grabbed the gun. ‘Ahh, let me do it,’ he rebuked. ‘We still have three shots left to claim a prize.’
Albert aimed the rifle with a sure grip and a steady hand. His taut posture, neatly trimmed moustache and sideburns contrasted with his son’s ungroomed shoulder-length hair and languid slouch. Each shot Albert fired provoked a tinny clang as it felled a soldier. Chloe whooped in delight. ‘Hooray, we won. Can I get Madame Cholet, please? Then I’d like to go on the Helter Skelter.’
Chloe climbed the lofty spiral slide that functioned as a beacon for Hunstanton’s fairground. She sped down the twisty chute like a fireball in her vivid orange sundress, shrieking excitedly. Albert and Paul rested on a bench in the tower’s shadow, shielding themselves from the blazing sun. Unusually, Albert had forgone his jacket. Still, he wore smart brown trousers with razor-sharp creases, held up by braces over a cream button-up shirt. Albert emitted a long breath. ‘I don’t know where Chloe gets all her energy from,’ he said.
Sitting with his legs crossed, Paul, wearing flared jeans and a brown polo shirt, replied, ‘From her mum, obviously. She has the same dynamism and infectious spirit. It’s uncanny how much Chloe resembles Juliana, isn’t it? They even have identical golden hair and hazel eyes.’
Albert scoffed as he stuffed tobacco into his pipe. ‘Chloe is wonderful, without a doubt. But it’s not because she’s just some carbon copy of her mother. You’re infatuated with your wife, so you can only recognise Juliana’s traits in Chloe. But Chloe reminds me of you at her age: smart, fearless and full of life. Sadly, the antithesis of what you’ve become. What exactly is your role in life nowadays? A glorified secretary? A housewife?’
Paul sighed. ‘Look, Dad, how many times have we been through this? I’m supporting ground-breaking research.’
‘And what does “supporting” mean? A man of your talent should be the one leading the research. You achieved the highest scores at your grammar school, a top degree from Cambridge, but then flunked your doctorate. Now you’re approaching thirty, relying on your wife as the family’s breadwinner. I’d reached factory supervisor level at your age.’
‘Dad, you know it’s not like that,’ Paul replied. ‘Juliana is leading the world in her field. She’s uniquely gifted, with a drive that leads others to deliver truly astonishing results. I can’t do that. But we’re a great partnership because the way we share our work and family responsibilities brings out the best in both of us.’
‘So where is she this weekend, then? It looks to me like the responsibilities are clear. Juliana does the real work while you perform the childcare.’
Paul grimaced, ‘Juliana was desperate to be here this weekend. She knows how much Chloe loves the seaside, especially when it’s so sunny. But the facility has an important event on Monday. Juliana’s presenting the results of our research to the press. She needs to prepare. It’s confidential and sensitive – so I can’t tell you about it now, Dad. But, trust me, it’s extraordinary – it will change the world when it’s revealed.’
A dog’s bark interrupted their bickering. Albert’s wife, Peggy, had returned with Rocky, Paul’s family Golden Retriever. Peggy wore a flowery dress and permed greying hair bulged from under her floppy sun hat. ‘He hasn’t been teasing you again about being a housewife, has he?’ she said. ‘I think your dad’s forgotten sex discrimination is illegal nowadays.’
Paul rolled his eyes, then asked, ‘Is Rocky all right, Mum? Did you find him some water?’
‘Yes, he’s fine for now. But he’s struggling in this heat, like the rest of us. They say it could get to a hundred today.’
Chloe skipped towards Paul and her grandparents and hugged Rocky. She pointed to the Womble peeping from Paul’s rucksack. ‘Look what we won, Grandma,’ she exclaimed.
‘Has Grampy been showing off his shooting skills again?’ said Peggy.
Chloe nodded.
‘They’ll ban him if he keeps hustling their cuddly toys.’
Chloe turned to Paul. ‘Can we go to the beach now, Daddy? Please?’
‘Of course we can,’ he gratefully replied.
Sunlight glistened off Albert’s polished black shoes as the family entered the promenade. They witnessed a scene reminiscent of Nice rather than Norfolk. The walkway buzzed with life – chiming arcades and roaring speedboats transcended the hubbub of animated holidaymakers. The varied aromas of seafood, candyfloss, and sun-tan lotion drifted across the seafront, blown by the gentle sea breeze. Albert grinned at Chloe’s wide-eyed wonder, eagerly taking everything in.
Once decamped on the expansive sandy beach, Paul, Chloe, and Rocky sprinted to the seafront, seeking relief from the heat in the icy North Sea. Chloe braved the cold and was swimming within seconds. After drying, Chloe asked Grandma to build a sandcastle with her.
Albert leaned back into the striped deck chair. ‘You know, Chloe could do with a brother or sister,’ he said. ‘But I don’t suppose you’re planning another one? How old is Juliana now, forty-five?’
‘Forty-four,’ Paul replied. ‘No, we’re not planning another one. Chloe’s all we want – look how happy she is.’
They both turned to observe Chloe chuckling as Grandma attempted to dig a moat while trying to stop Rocky from joining in and destroying the castle.
‘Time for an ice cream?’ Albert yelled at Chloe.
‘Yes, please, Grampy,’ Chloe called back. As they capered hand in hand to the nearest vendor, Peggy said, ‘He does adore her, you know?’
Paul replied, ‘I know, that’s why I bring her to see you as much as possible, but I wish he’d tone down the continual niggling.’
‘It will take time. He’s still getting used to your situation.’
‘It’s been five years already. How long does he need? I’d like him to at least accept it’s how we wish to live our lives.’
‘He respects Juliana, but I will try to get him to drop the criticism.’
Paul paused, his brow furrowed, leaning in to face Peggy. ‘Listen, Mum. Monday’s going to be an important day for us. It will be a seminal moment for science and significantly elevate Juliana’s profile…our family’s profile. I need you and Dad to be prepared for that. Juliana will receive international respect but also – possibly – condemnation. Some of it could be cruel. We’ll shield Chloe as much as possible, but I need you and Dad to help look after her if things turn nasty.’
‘You’re scaring me now, Love,’ she said. ‘But, of course, we’ll do anything to help Chloe.’
‘Don’t worry, Mum, I’m probably being overdramatic. The research will have an incredibly beneficial impact on humanity. I’m sure the reaction will be overwhelmingly positive. I can’t wait for you to find out about it.’
They packed away the beach gear and returned to Albert and Peggy’s static holiday caravan. On their way back, Peggy walked with Paul and said, ‘Do you have to go early tomorrow? We’re staying until late evening. Your dad hoped to take Chloe to the boating lake.’
Paul replied, ‘I need to get back by lunchtime to help Juliana with a final run-through of her presentation. And you could see a lot of Chloe over the next few months.’
Paul was packed and ready to leave at 10.30 am. He and Chloe hugged Peggy and Albert, and they said their farewells.
Paul managed to manoeuvre Rocky into the back of his Ford Cortina Estate. However, before Paul and Chloe entered the car, Albert approached. He momentarily stared into Chloe’s hazel eyes before hugging her again. ‘Come back and see us soon,’ he pleaded as he surreptitiously passed her a tube of Smarties.
‘I love you, Grampy,’ Chloe replied.
Albert turned to Paul and opened his mouth as if he had something to say. Paul waited for him to speak. Albert wasn’t usually tongue-tied. Finally, after thirty silent seconds, he simply said, ‘Good luck tomorrow, Son.’
Getting back to Juliana’s home, their home, near St Ives in Cambridgeshire, usually took a couple of hours. But, after they passed Downham Market, it was evident the journey would take longer. Traffic dawdled southwards, held up by frequent roadworks and the volume of vehicles. They were stuck behind a Mini. Slender straps fastened a stack of holiday paraphernalia onto its roof, including two hefty wooden deckchairs. Paul shook his head in disbelief. How could they fit so much on such a small car?
They finally picked up speed. Paul glanced in the rear-view mirror. Chloe snoozed, cuddling her Womble. Her unwavering trust in him tugged at Paul’s heart. He flinched, startled out of his contemplation. The deckchairs on the car in front slipped loose from their bindings. They broke free and hurtled towards the windscreen. Paul thrust the steering wheel to the right but went too far. The blaring horn of the onrushing lorry signalled a futile warning. A head-on collision was inevitable.
Do you know the thrill and frustration of having information that the characters do not have? You see them just falling short of doing what would lead them to uncover a great mystery and all you can do is yell at the pages like some kind of creepy, ghost voyeur in their lives. Dark Swans is so good that I had a couple of those moments. Those moments kept me glued to the book so that I can see which step would finally make characters do what was needed. I loved every moment of simultaneously not knowing what was really going on and still feeling like I have something to work with. It was truly thrilling!
From one piece of the puzzle to the next, it might feel like one is reading entirely separate and different stories that are not related in any way. As disconcerting as this can feel, the connections begin to show themselves a few chapters into the book, so do not be discouraged by the first couple of stories. The fact that Stephen Jackson organized these stories so well made it easier to keep track of who's who and what their part is in the grand scheme of things. If you enjoy thrillers and being made to solve cases while being kept in pitch-black darkness, this book might be what you have been looking for.
With milestones of scientific breakthrough, infertility, and death, this book holds its readers in a major guessing game that spans from 1976 to recent years (2021). Its varying perspectives and multiple narrators of stories that are all somehow linked create a massive puzzle that is being constructed in a dark room with the promise of a light at the end of the tunnel that will make it all worth it. From Juliana and Paul's major breakthrough to Kyle and Millie's investigation of Wesley Meyers' death, I was hooked.
If you think this is the book for you, you should be aware that Jackson constantly makes use of profanity that might make reading the book uncomfortable for some readers. Although one of the themes of the book revolves around reproduction, the sexual content is kept at a minimum, without details of sexual acts that would make the references to sexual activity vulgar or descriptive. Other than some minor errors, it was quite professionally edited as well. I would recommend that you give it a read if you find yourself as intrigued as I was because it was worth every second I spent reading it.