JAFE DANBURY

Jafe Danbury hails from the trenches of the Hollywood production scene, where he spent decades as a camera operator, director of photography, and director. He has also worked as a teacher and is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran.

He enjoys noodling on the guitar, long road trips, likes his bacon crispy, and loves a good dive bar––especially if it happens to have a twenty-two-foot shuffleboard table. He prefers a leisurely walk to running, unless being chased by a clown with a chainsaw.

Jafe and his lovely bride currently reside in central California and are working on their exit plan. Their children consist of several rescue dogs and a wacky cockatoo or two.

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EDITORIAL REVIEWS:

Before the Lights Go Out, Readers' Favorite, January 26, 2026:

"The novel highlights themes of motherly love, betrayal, resilience, and, finally, spiritual awakening as Reagan learns to find the light in the darkness. The narrative moves quickly as Reagan discovers the truth about her husband, and it culminates in a cinematic showdown.

Jafe Danbury excels at creating vivid sensory details: the smell of the Hamburg fish market, the taste of German pastries, and the texture of rope lighting guides in a dark house. I look forward to seeing Before the Lights Go Out adapted for the screen.

Danbury has crafted a compelling protagonist in Reagan Dunkel and well-written supporting characters. The mother-daughter dynamic is the heart of the novel, and the friendship with Ames is written in its purest sense: one of loyalty, support, and banter."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mimie Odigwe for Readers' Favorite

So Much Forever, Judge's comments, Writers Digest Awards Competition:

"This book is exemplary in its structure, organization, and pacing. The structure of the chapters/parts aid in a compelling organization of the story or information. The pacing is even throughout and matches the tone/genre of the book.

Genuinely shocked at how quickly this book goes. Masterclass in shifting perspectives without slowing down the story.

The cover being referenced in Rose's drawing was very satisfying.

This book is fun. I don’t have the context of the first two novels to drive interest, and I still felt myself invested in the lives of these characters, even and especially Tempest Cage. Four hundred pages feels like nothing when it’s paced this well, and the cuts between perspectives might have been disorienting if they hadn’t all been so intentional and clearly connected. A healthy dose of sweet moments (Abby at the Easter egg hunt nearly brought me to tears) is the icing on the cake."

✍️ So Much Forever, Reviewed by Readers' Favorite (Silver Medal Winner):

"In So Much Forever by Jafe Danbury, Tempest Cage has awakened to another day of misery in Surprise, AZ. Her relationship with her abusive boyfriend has run its course and her primary concerns are for herself and her young daughter Abigail. She bids her boyfriend adieu in a way that leaves a blood trail. Meanwhile, Curt and Phoenix Martinsen are attempting a return to normalcy in the aftermath of their daughter Rose’s kidnapping by a human trafficking ring. The small family lives with Phoenix’s father but plans to find a place of their own soon enough. Their path to routine is dashed when Curt crosses Tempest’s path and she wants Curt all for herself. Tempest initiates a plan that will leave Curt trapped, Phoenix panic-stricken, and the local cops dealing with numerous corpses.

So Much Forever is the thrilling third installment in the Phoenix series by author Jafe Danbury which chronicles the tribulations of Phoenix Martinsen (nee Laflamme). The new threat facing Phoenix and her family arises from a wildcard in the persona of Tempest Cage. Tempest fulfills her moniker aptly as her actions go from maternal to possessive and homicidal in the blink of an eye. Danbury provides a wealth of backstory to highlight Tempest’s evolution while not losing focus on the story. Curt and Phoenix have survived harrowing ordeals but their devotion to each other and Rose are endearing and genuine. The book has its fair share of violence, but it is balanced by humor and heart. So Much Forever is a stirring read from start to finish."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Philip Zozzaro for Readers' Favorite

BookLife review of ❌ in Publishers Weekly:

"Danbury’s tense followup to Leaving Phoenix) finds a hard-won peace shattered as Phoenix and Curt Martinsen’s adorable six-year-old daughter Rose Martinsen becomes the quarry of online pedophiles. After a video clip of Rose hits social media and reveals their house number and license plates, a pair of murderous villains snatches her from a grocery-store parking lot, spurring Phoenix, with family in tow, back onto the road to follow clues in a cross-country trek, with the FBI close behind. They converge on a Missouri mansion whose owner offers little girls as sexual party favors at a heinous, annual Christmas event. But will the Martinsens arrive in time to spare Rose from being the pedophiles’ prize?

Danbury takes pains to be sure that readers new to the Phoenix Martinsen series will understand X. Although human trafficking is the theme, and a young girl faces horrific danger throughout, no explicit abuse scenes occur. However, this traumatic topic always warrants a trigger alert. Still, humor abounds with villains’ bumbling capers, Curt’s inner dialogue as he teaches first graders, and even some playful puns: “With apologies to the proverb’s originators, it could be said that Missouri loves company.” This lightness balances Phoenix’s anguish as she searches for her child. Danbury keeps the pages turning and readers on their toes by frequently hopping from one character’s point of view to another, but well-labeled, crisply written chapters clarify where and when the action takes place.

Most villains are recognizable types: An overbearing, repulsive mother browbeats a cunning son while coddling his intellectually challenged brother, and child abusers twirl their metaphorical mustaches as they anticipate debauchery. What stands out, again, is Phoenix, whose undaunted mama-bear heroism and strong Christian faith are so persuasive that readers will expect Rose’s safe recovery. With Phoenix’s husband, father, and a former military chum as back-up, the narrative emphasizes the strength of family. Readers will cheer for this lovable group of rescuers.

Takeaway: A mother hunts for her abducted child in this family-driven page-turner."

~ Publishers Weekly (September 18, 2023)

"Danbury’s expertise in crafting a riveting tale shines through, making ❌ a book that’s difficult to put down. His flair for suspense keeps readers on the edge of their seats, continually urging them to turn the next page. For its engrossing plot, well-rounded characters, and gripping narrative, ❌ comes highly recommended as one of the most remarkable reads in recent memory."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ Literary Titan (July 2023)

✍️ LEAVING PHOENIX received a FINALIST MEDAL in the 2022 READERS' FAVORITE BOOK AWARDS!! Additionally, it was awarded GOLD in the READER VIEWS AWARDS, and Finalist in the IAN BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, among others....🏅

✍️ KIRKUS REVIEWS: "The author is a skillful writer with a sure-footed knack for keeping the narrative moving. A significant element of this is Danbury’s decision to delve in detail into the individual backstories of his characters, ranging from Phoebe’s grandfather to the Pirate himself. These extended flashback sequences provide a welcome shading to Phoebe’s own tale as it progresses, and they further highlight the author’s ability to craft moving, believable characters. Liam’s story, in particular, the tale of a good man hitting rock bottom and finding his way back to the world, works as an effective narrative counterpoint to the book’s main plot threads. A tense and involving tale of a young woman seeking revenge and finding a family."

~ Kirkus Reviews

✍️ READERS' FAVORITE BOOK REVIEWS, March 2022: "While reading Leaving Phoenix, the plot sticks with you and you become so invested that you want to find out what happens next. This novel is likely to earn strong reviews by word of mouth. Now is precisely the time for this novel. It is intense and often gripping to read, but it is also highly satisfying as you put yourself in the shoes of a young woman who must unravel her past and face a dark truth. Jafe Danbury displays a well-crafted treatment of tone and pacing, as well as a well-fleshed-out protagonist that you will truly care about. Danbury kneads the tension slowly, allowing Phoebe to accumulate resilience and intelligence as she gets closer to the truth. A must-read for any lovers of suspense and mystery, Leaving Phoenix is a heart-pounding and profoundly suspenseful novel that reaches an enormously satisfying arc."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews

✍️ THE OTHER CHEEK: Boy meets girl. Girl beats boy. Just your typical love story...

"An intense, sometimes-brutal novel about acknowledging and escaping an abusive relationship." ~ Kirkus Reviews

🏅 FINALIST, Best First Novel, 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

"...I absolutely flew through Danbury’s work, absorbing one of Rich’s emotions after the other and fearing Tami right alongside him. I recommend this book to anyone who has survived abuse, thinks they may be a victim, or knows and loves someone who is dealing with a controlling significant other. Danbury is making important strides with The Other Cheek."

~ Literary Titan ✍️ (August 2020)