Showing posts with label thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thriller. Show all posts
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Sunday, 5 February 2017
Author Interview: Kiss of Death by Robert Skuce
Currently living in Southern Ontario with his wife and four kids, Robert enjoys long walks, time with his family and lazy afternoons getting caught up on television. He loves playing with computers and is the household personal IT technician. When he goes out, you can find him exploring the different restaurants his city has to offer and driving in the country side. He is always looking for new places to be the basis of his books. He photographs abandoned buildings and unique parts of town in order to create a sense of realism in his books.
Filled with ideas and personalities that are unique, he is always coming up with a new and twist-filled story that will make its way to the pages everyone can enjoy. Captivating his readers with the difficulty in his books and leaving them trying to figure out who did it, will make you want to keep reading to see what Robert Skuce will come up with next!
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I don't plan everything in my books. I usually have some key scenes and wants to add to my books, but the story always changes as the story begins to unfold.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Yes, quite often I discover that characters move the story in directions that I couldn't even imagine. It's one of the things that I find exciting about writing. The character's personality sometimes takes over the story and moves it in directions that I originally would not have imagined.
What is your favourite food?
Pizza
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I am a night owl
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
Right now I think Italy is my dream destination. I have traveled a lot with a former job, but I haven't had time to actually explore and enjoy the places I traveled to. When I was in Italy I saw so much history and would love to have the time enjoy it.
Do distant places feature in your books?
My current books take place where I live. I have two Canadian series I am working on, but a future series will take place in some of the countries I visited or want to visit.
Do you listen to music while writing?
No I don't listen to music, but there is generally the TV running in the background.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
It’s a thriller/crime story, it touches on the psychological side. It’s a book about a Serial Killer who got away and has surfaced again after 5 years. It’s up to Detective Bruno Norcross to catch him.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Rayne Hall has a Writers Craft series that I find myself always referring to over and over again.
What are three words that describe you?
Energetic optimistic dreamer
Kiss of Death
by Robert Skuce
Thriller
Homicide detective, Bruno Norcross, is called to investigate the brutal murder of a college call girl. This isn't just any other crime scene. Bruno has seen this scene before, only the last time, the killer got away leaving Bruno feeling as though his career is incomplete. Nobody escapes Bruno's grasp twice and when his nemesis arises again, it’s time to bring him in. A serial killer, only known as the Kiss of Death, is back, only this time he made a mistake. A witness, like no other, was left behind and this witness knows the victim better than anyone.
Rosie's stalker, Ashley Truelove knows everything about her, from what she wears to who she sees. The question isn't can Ashley help Bruno catch the killer, but will he? With meager and confusing clues, two known victims and time running out, Bruno realizes that the cost of bringing the murderer to justice will be paid in blood. With the police Sergeant on his back to catch this killer and provide justice for the death of his daughter, Bruno is racing against time. Kiss of Death only hunts occasionally and time is running out before he vanishes again. Can Bruno find the evidence to stop him or will he escape his clutches once again?
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
Charles Barnett has a book called The Deepest Sea. Its still one of my all time favorite books and I admire his writing style.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web
www.robertskuce.com is where you can always find me.
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Thursday, 14 July 2016
Author Interview: Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan
Ed Duncan is a graduate of Oberlin College and Northwestern University Law School. He was a partner at a national law firm in Cleveland, Ohio for many years. He currently lives outside of Cleveland, OH and is at work on the second installment in the Pigeon-Blood Red trilogy.
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I start with a very broad outline that tells me what the novel is about, who the characters are, and how the story will end. The details fill themselves in as I write. As ideas come to me, however, I jot them down so that I don't lose them. Occasionally, I think of a character or plot twist as I'm lying in bed just before falling asleep. When that happens, I get out of bed and write a note to myself.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
My characters do sometimes want to take over the story. For instance, in Pigeon-Blood Red I intended to have two main characters who were roughly on par in terms of importance to the novel, but with a slight edge going to Paul, a lawyer, because, after all, I'm a lawyer and Paul is an idealized version of myself. To my dismay, however, Rico – the other character – an underworld enforcer, fought this idea at every turn. I fought back but eventually I gave up. There is now only one main character in the novel, Rico.
What is your favourite food?
My favorite food is a tender, succulent steak, preferably filet mignon. My favorite dessert is German chocolate cake.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I'm definitely a night owl. I often don't start writing until late evening and don't stop until three or four o'clock in the morning. Like a number of people, I thought at one point that I suffered from sleep apnea, and I think I do have of moderate case. However, if I stay awake until I'm ready to fall asleep (no earlier than two o'clock), I generally can fall asleep without much difficulty. Of course, that wasn't possible before I retired.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I dream of traveling to Kauai, Hawaii. The last scene from one of my favorite movies, Body Heat, was filmed there. In that scene, against a backdrop of towering mountains, blue sky, and an aquamarine ocean, Kathleen Turner's character, the femme fatale, is pictured relaxing on a chaise lounge while she awaits a tropical drink being delivered to her by a waiter dressed in Hawaiian garb. That scene, the ultimate depiction of "the good life," made a lasting impression on me.
Do distant places feature in your books?
A distant place, Honolulu, is featured in Pigeon-Blood Red. The action begins in Chicago, then switches to Honolulu, and ends back in Chicago. The idea for the novel came to me during a visit to Honolulu many years ago, and that location is central to the novel's plot.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Very rarely do I listen to music while I'm writing. It's too hard to find a radio station that plays for extended periods without commercial interruptions or the kind of soothing music I find conducive to writing. Unfortunately, my own collection is interspersed with too many up tempo recordings.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
Pigeon-Blood Red tells the story of an underworld enforcer who is in pursuit of a small time businessman who stole a pigeon-blood red ruby necklace worth millions. He trails the thief from Chicago to Honolulu, but the chase goes sideways after the hardened hitman develops a grudging respect for a couple of innocent bystanders who become embroiled in the crime: the thief's unsuspecting wife and an old flame who comes to her rescue as the enforcer closes in. The hitman must decide whether to follow orders and kill them or spare them and endanger the life of the woman he loves.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
I've actually had something confirmed that I already knew based on my reading and observations, that is, it is not enough to write a good novel, because tons of excellent novels are being published annually. So trying to get noticed through effective marketing is very important. The key is determining what is effective and what is not. Unfortunately, much must be learned through trial and error and wading through all of the advice online can be both daunting and frustrating. However, unless you bite the bullet and hire a good publicist, the effort must be made.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I think I would have looked for legitimate contests for first novels to enter. Certainly, the odds of winning are slim but the payoff could be huge if your novel were accepted by a major publisher.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
I write crime fiction so the biggest influences on my writing have been writers in that genre. The biggest early influence was The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. The dialogue in that novel is simply superb. Witness the fact that much of it was used verbatim in the 1941 movie version of the novel, whose screenplay was nominated for an academy award. My biggest modern influence is Lee Child. His Jack Reacher character is wonderfully realized and remains unfailingly fascinating from one novel to the next. And no one can turn up the tension and maintain it chapter after chapter like Child.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
My advice to beginning writers is to constantly re-write. They should find a good editor, especially if they intend to self-publish. They should read everything they can about the business of writing. They should attend a variety of writing conferences. If they are self-publishing or being published by a smaller publisher, they should consider retaining a reputable publicist. Unless they have some skill in this area and oodles of time, trying to duplicate what a good publicist does likely will be both time-consuming and frustrating.
What are three words that describe you?
Three words that describe me are: loyal, dependable, and trustworthy.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
I haven't revisited it in a long time but I'd say my favorite novel in any genre is An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. Unlike Hemingway or Fitzgerald, Dreiser is not a master of style and his sentence structure can be clunky, but the pathos and sweep of this novel are extraordinary. I think it's truly an example of the great American novel.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
As Rico pursues his new targets, the hunter and his prey develop an unlikely respect for one another and Rico is faced with a momentous decision: follow his orders to kill the couple whose courage and character have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?
Praise for Pigeon-Blood Red
“Fast-paced and full of surprises. Will keep you on the edge of your seat!” – Amazon Customer
“Pigeon Blood Red has a dramatic and satisfying conclusion, leaving the reader nodding his head with approval." - Readers' Favorite
“In a novel with as much action as love, it is sure to be a story that will fulfill the desires of readers of all ages, genders, and areas of interest.” – Red City Review
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ed-Duncan-Author-1077945592245888
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28223259
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pigeonbloodred
Author Website: https://eduncan.net/
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
Author Interview: Icy Passage by Ann Gimpel
About the Author:
Ann Gimpel is a national bestselling author. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Her longer books run the gamut from urban fantasy to paranormal romance. Once upon a time, she nurtured clients, now she nurtures dark, gritty fantasy stories that push hard against reality. When she’s not writing, she’s in the backcountry getting down and dirty with her camera. She’s published over 30 books to date, with several more planned for 2016 and beyond. A husband, grown children, grandchildren and wolf hybrids round out her family.
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I do a little of both. Sometimes the story flows, and sometimes I plan it out. Icy Passage went through several iterations before this final version.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Oh hell yes. All the time, and the sad part is I let them. Wimp that I am.
What is your favourite food?
Anything Japanese.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Morning person.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I’d love to return to Antarctica. I’ve been there twice now, and I’d really enjoy another trip, but my husband is in full rebellion.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Absolutely. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a lot and I’ve climbed mountains all over the world. I work distant places into many of my books.
Do you listen to music while writing?
No, it distracts me.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
Antarctica was always a lifelong dream of mine. I know. Weird. Right? A trip fell into my lap in March 2014. We had very little time to prepare, but we managed. The plan was to fly to Ushuaia and board a boat for the Antarctic Continent and South Georgia Island. Along the way, we were supposed to do a mountaineering crossing of South Georgia, complete with ropes and crampons and living in a tent. The last part of March is late in the year for Antarctica--coming into their winter since the seasons are reversed. We had hideous weather, huge waves, hurricane force winds, but I still adored it. In fact, I liked it so much, we spent the month of November 2014 in Antarctica too. A very different trip, and I'm glad we went both times because we saw different things.
A story started percolating on the first voyage. I was working on another book at the time, so I tried very hard not to start on Icy Passage, but I broke down in the Buenos Aires airport on the trip home and wrote the first thousand words. Aside from doing my damnedest to breathe life into the unbelievable pristine beauty and wonder of that part of the world, I brushed up on the hard science I cut my teeth on as an undergraduate in college.
Icy Passage is a special book for me because it blends my knowledge of medicine, my love of the world under a microscope, and my fascination with Antarctica into one package.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
Aw geez. I could write books about that. Everything in this business changes fast, but the two things you always need are top flight cover art and a strong editor who isn’t afraid to point out your flaws.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Yes. I wouldn’t stick with small presses for 25 books. I needed them at the front end because I truly knew nothing, but I could’ve branched out on my own after about ten books. Other authors told me I was nuts, but I wouldn’t listen. Now that I’m fully Indie, I’ll never look back.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
Urban fantasy writers like Charles deLint, Illona Andrews, Sherrilyn Kenyon. High fantasy authors like Patricia McKillip, Ursula LeGuin, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Write every day. Find a good critique group, a place where people will tear the living crap out of your writing. Your job is to be strong enough to recognize which parts need changing and which parts truly are your voice.
What are three words that describe you?
Determined. Courageous. Thick-skinned.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
It’s a tough call between Outlander and LOTR.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
The one right before Icy Passage was Heart’s Flame. Here’s its blurb:
Tumble into a world where magic won, but the price was high enough to annihilate almost everything—including love.
Life in a Were bordello is all Keira has ever known. None of the magicians’ guilds wanted her because of her mixed blood, and they didn’t protest when the Weres bound her as an indentured hooker. Mired in the hopelessness of her dreams, she longs for more.
Barrett’s a full-blood magic wielder who operates a magician supply shop in what’s left of Seattle. No one is more surprised than him when the Sidhe leader commands him to extricate Keira from the Weres. He knows her because she loves to while away time in his shop, but she’s always skittered away whenever he got too close. Too bad because she’s twenty shades of gorgeous.
Magic and intrigue throw Keira and Barrett together. Attraction ignites, burning white hot, but Keira has other priorities—like learning to control brand new magic she had no idea she possessed. Besides, Barrett is such a hunk of a man, surely he has lots of women stashed somewhere. He wants her too, has for a long time, but once he spirits her away from the Weres, his job is done. Far better to keep his distance and allow her to seize the destiny she was born for.
Except it’s not what he wants. Her, either. Can they bridge the gap between them before it’s too late?
List of previous books if any
There are a lot of them. My website, http://www.anngimpel.com is a good place to find my books. I also run my own e-commerce site where readers can find my books. Here’s the link to it. https://store7714213.ecwid.com/
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
My website is above. Here are some other links:
http://anngimpel.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/author/anngimpel
http://www.facebook.com/anngimpel.author
@AnnGimpel (for Twitter)
Thank you so much for hosting me, and for a very thorough interview! Some of those questions made me dig deep.
You're very welcome :)
***
Ann Gimpel
Dream Shadow Press
110K words
Release Date: 2/29/16
Genre: Supernatural thriller romance
Tumble into the icy danger of Antarctica with a blazing hot romance. Mittens and fan required.
Book Description:
Fresh out of residency, Dr. Kayna Quan opts for a tour in Antarctica. Money is short, so she hires on as medical officer aboard a Russian research vessel headed for McMurdo Station. Primed for almost anything, she plays her paranormal ability close to the vest.
Stationed on remote South Georgia Island for two years, Brynn McMichaels is eager for a change. When cultures of the single-celled organism, archaea, overgrow their bins in his lab and begin shifting into another form, he worries he’s losing his mind and talks with scientists at McMurdo, but they have problems of their own—bad ones. Brynn agrees to help. The weather’s too uncertain to send a plane, so he hitches a ride aboard Kayna’s ship and brings his mutant culture colonies along.
Attraction sparks, urgent, hot and powerful, between Brynn and Kayna, but her disclosure about her magic is a tough nut to crack. It doesn’t help that her dead father is stalking her. Lethal cultures, bizarre illness, and McMurdo’s refusal to let them land force Brynn and Kayna into an uneasy alliance. Will their fragile bond be enough to thwart the powers trying to destroy Earth, and them along with it?
Amazon | BN | iTunes | Kobo | ARe | Google Play
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Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Cover Reveal: Half-Life by Paul B Shinn
Paul H.B. Shin
Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC
Genre: Thriller
Release Date: September 6, 2016
About the Book:
The year is 1997. North Korea is suffering from a devastating famine that has shaken the foundation of the ruling class. A series of high-profile defections to the West has lead the reclusive country's leadership into the grasp of paranoia.
Nuclear scientist Han Chol-Soo is on a tenuous diplomatic mission to the United States. There he is forced to embark upon a high-stakes pursuit after his wife disappears with their newborn son. Paralyzed with fear at the repercussions of her decision, Han turns to his colleague Park Jun-Young for help -- a man that he suspects is an intelligence operative. He soon regrets his decision as Park cuts a swath of mayhem in the name of helping Han, and the chase forces Han to confront the harsh realities of his home country.
Half Life Reviews
“Half Life is a terrific novel. Right from the start you'll be drawn into many dark worlds—politics, espionage, and North Korea—and it will keep you on the edge of your seat right until the last page. Paul H.B. Shin’s authenticity and style cannot be missed.” –Dale Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Starfire (William Morrow)
“A gripping, taut espionage thriller, Half Life is enriched by the love story at its core and the refusal to give simple answers. I loved it.” –Robert Ferrigno, bestselling & award-winning author of Heart of the Assassin (Scribner)
“Paul H. B. Shin wraps an engaging tale of espionage and intrigue around a failed marriage in his new international thriller, Half Life. With sure-footed prose and vivid characterization, Shin takes readers inside the paranoid claustrophobia of North Korea’s political world, where even high-ranking diplomats live in constant fear. With North Korea's nuclear arms program as a backdrop, the eminently believable and thoughtful plot will have readers wondering if they're looking at tomorrow's news. A well-wrought debut.” –Jim DeFelice, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of American Sniper (William Morrow)
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Book Trailer:
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About the Author:
Paul H.B. Shin’s debut novel follows a career as an award-winning journalist for more than 20 years, most recently for ABC News. He previously wrote for the New York Daily News. He was born in South Korea and lived in London during his childhood. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York.
https://twitter.com/PaulHBShin
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Reinheit by Thomsas S. Flowers
Thomas S Flowers
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Booktrope
Date of Publication: July 29, 2015
ISBN: 1513701673
ASIN: B013118P92
Number of pages: 184
Word Count: 62,200
Cover Artist: Travis Eck
Book Description:
Rebecca Moss never questioned the purchase of the strange seductive armchair. She wanted to please Frank. But the armchair has a dark purpose. Nazi officer Major Eric Schröder believed fervently in Hitler's vision of purity. Now the chair has passed to Frank, an abusive thug who has his own twisted understanding of patriotism. There are those who want to destroy the armchair, to end its curse. But can the armchair be stopped before it completes its work?
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/f6PWf_qW1Xg
BN | Amazon | Goodreads | Apple
***
Excerpt:
The Eastern Front, Lithuania. July 1941.
The armchair moaned delightfully as Major Erich Schröder sat. Outside, the sun burst into the mountain ridge, filling the sky with brilliant orange and red flames. Schröder watched out the open window from his seat in front of a dormant fireplace. He poured a glass of Berentzen Doornkaat schnapps from the decanter he had brought with him from home. Helen had packed it for him, wrapped with last month’s funny pages. One of the strips discarded in the waste bin revealed a valiant rosy cheeked Dutchman named Conrad, demonstrating the power of solidarity in the factory workforce. The energetic and turbulent rhythm of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony floated into the room from some far off record player in the barracks. Love this performance. Schröder closed his eyes and sunk farther into the armchair. The cool leather and haunting harmony of Beethoven set his mind at ease, comforting his weary bones. The comfort abated his thoughts, for the moment at least, of what lay ahead and the unordinary expectations levied upon his young shoulders by high command.
Expectations? he thought. God help us. Schröder lifted his glass and took a long gulp, biting down against the burning sensation crawling in his throat. Expectations… Horrible, horrible expectations… But it must be done. Himmler has given the order, and so it must be. Ein Völk, ein Reich, ein Führer. For we are one people, one nation, of one leader…
Schröder had believed in the vision for a thousand-year Reich ever since he was a young boy, serving in the Hitler youth movement, following in the shadow of Herbert Norkus, the child martyr. Schröder believed in his führer fervently and demonstrated so by enlisting in the Waffen officer program when he became of age. And that strong belief made him stand out from among his peers to become a full party member of the Schutzstaffel order, the dreaded and feared SS. And even after receiving his first orders, being forced to follow on the boot heels of the regular army into the Eastern Front, he retained his faith in the great commission, the plan to save Germany, to bring the Fatherland into rebirth, renewal, into purification…but at what cost? he wondered.
“Major?” called a strong male voice from outside the door, interrupting Schröder’s thoughts.
“Who is it?” asked Schröder. He took another long swig before rubbing the cold glass against his temple, struggling to abate the crest of an emerging headache.
“Lieutenant Braun, sir.”
Ah, yes, Braun. The thought of the handsome lieutenant was not unpleasant. Unlike the rest of the old reservists assigned to his unit, Braun was different, younger than Schröder, which wasn’t saying much. But Braun is local, Schröder recalled, just like the other swine. Well…the lieutenant must be the exception, proving not all of Lithuania is as ghastly as it appears. Perhaps there are some redeeming qualities, he thought with a hungry smile.
“Enter,” Schröder finally answered. His face returned to its narrow coldness. He brushed his short-cropped, wavy, blond hair to the side. He crossed his legs and stared into the fireplace, as if contemplating a fire.
The door opened. Schröder listened to the marching of feet coming to a halt directly behind the armchair. He guessed there were at least two men, uniforms flat as iron, brown as earth, with burning red armbands and swastikas on each muscular biceps. The last being a fantasy, of course, most of the men under his command were police reservists from the rural portions of the country, not at all the physique of physically disciplined soldiers. Well, except for Braun. He is most certainly fit. Schröder took another gulp from his favorite schnapps, quietly fantasizing Braun’s undergarments, waiting on either of the reservists to speak, but no one did. Only silence, except for the ice cubes ringing against his crystalline glass.
“What is it?” Schröder asked impatiently, his breath on fire. His head felt dizzy.
“Sir…” began Braun, his voice boyish but prudent.
“For God’s sake, spit it out,” Schröder barked.
“The delivery, sir. It has arrived.”
“Delivery?”
“The cases of schnapps, sir.”
“Oh, yes, good,” said Schröder taking another swig, nearly killing the glass. “Assign a small detail and unload some of the boxes into one of the storage rooms. Keep the rest on the truck,” he ordered with heated breath.
“Yes, major.”
“Use the quartermaster’s room, if you must. When you’re finished, have the rest of the company form up in the courtyard,” Schröder ordered. His mind began to drift between his nearly empty glass and the sound of crows squawking about outside the window, desperately searching for a place to nest before winter. A strong breeze found its way inside. The odor of pine and spruce filled his quaint personal quarters decorated with yellow flower wallpaper and a quaint single bed covered in soft linen sheets. An old quaint oak dresser and vanity sat next to the bed, and a small quaint circular kitchen table, also made of solid oak, sat on the other side of the fireplace. The burgundy leather Queen Ann high back armchair was last of the furniture.
Schröder waved his hand in his usual form of dismissal. He listened to the snapping of boot heels as the men shouted in unison, “Sieg, Heil!”
“And, lieutenant…” Schröder added.
“Yes, major?” asked Braun.
“Keep it quiet.”
“Sir?”
“I don’t want a bunch of questions about why we have the liquor on the truck. I want this done quickly and quietly, understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
***
Thomas S Flowers was born in Walter Reed Medical Center, Maryland to a military family. He grew up in RAF Chicksands, England and then later Fort Meade, and finally Roanoke, Virginia. Thomas graduated high school in 2000 and on September 11, 2001, joined the U.S. Army. From 2001-2008, Thomas served in the military police corps, with one tour in South Korea and three tours serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, between deployments, Thomas met his wife and following his third and final tour to Iraq, decided to rejoin the civilian ranks.
Thomas was discharged honorably in February 2008 and moved to Houston, Texas where he found employment and attended night school. In 2014, Thomas graduated with a Bachelor in Arts in History from University of Houston-Clear Lake. Thomas blogs at www.machinemean.org, commenting and reviewing movies, books, shows, and historical content. Thomas is living a rather simple and quite life with his beautiful bride and amazing daughter, just south of Houston, Texas.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasSFlowers
Twitter: https://twitter.commachinemeannow
Website/Blog: http://machinemean.org/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-S.-Flowers/e/B008ML8VBE/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9537035.Thomas_S_Flowers
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Tour giveaway
2 Signed paperbacks (US and Canada)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, 21 September 2015
Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Nation of Enemies by H.A. Raynes
Title: Nation of Enemies
Author: H.A. Raynes
Genre: Thriller
It’s all about the genetics. DNA. Black & white.
A decade ago the U.S. government mandated that all citizens be issued biochips containing all of their medical information and an ID number indicating a person’s health. Then they made the information public—the implications of which are wide-spread and devastating.
Now on the eve of the 2032 presidential election, the country is deeply divided and on the brink of civil war. But as the two major political parties face off, innocent Americans are dying at the hands of masked terrorists. When the Liberty Party’s presidential nominee is assassinated in a highly-coordinated, masterful attack, it sets off a chain of events that will change the course of history and leave America’s inalienable rights—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—dangling on the precipice of extinction.
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Excerpt:
It’s hard for Lily Fitzgerald to believe that only a month ago they were on a ship to London, only to be denied entry. Now thirty-four weeks pregnant, she rests her hand atop her belly and sets her feet on an unpacked box of pots and pans. Early morning sun fills the room as she sits at the kitchen table checking email on her tablet. She shifts uncomfortably in the maternity jeans she’s come to loathe. The baby moves and a bit of Lily’s belly juts out. An elbow? A foot?
Their failed attempt to immigrate brought her to a dark place. Since the moment they scanned her belly, she’s questioned everything. If it weren’t for the baby, they might be living in England. And though she wants this baby with every thread of her being, she knows it’s selfish. After Ian was born, they debated having another child. It seemed wrong, knowingly bringing a child into war. But it didn’t stop her yearning. Finally, they decided to leave it up to Fate. Fate waited ten long years. Despite everything, she can’t wait to meet her daughter.
She’s promised herself not to cry anymore, and she needs to be strong for Ian. Cole says he’ll find a way around the MedID system, but she can’t imagine how. He also swore to keep them safe. When they’d disembarked in South Boston, he surprised her with a self-driving, bulletproof Land Rover waiting for them in the harbor parking lot. And instead of going to their wilting Victorian in Brookline, he’d taken them to a Safe District just west of the city. They’d been fighting this move for years, clinging to an old way of life in a beautiful, but decaying, neighborhood. Now they live in an unimaginative, mind-numbing, prefab house. Still, she has to admit that driving through heavily guarded gates into a community surrounded by twenty-foot walls is comforting. She actually lets Ian ride his bike down the street now. And Cole has abandoned his treadmill, his runs finally infused with fresh air. He must’ve spent most of their savings for their new life-in-a-bubble. The exclusivity of it all bothers her—most people can’t afford to live this way. But her children are safe here. So to hell with her guilty conscience.
The next email fills the screen with video of an animated woman. Her voice is eerily friendly. “Lily Fitzgerald, your daughter has a forty-eight percent higher chance of securing a clean MedID number if you address issues in utero. New life equals new opportunity. With embryonic intervention, your daughter won’t need to worry about major medical issues. Though you’ve entered your third trimester, there are still options available. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call now to give your baby a healthier future.”
***
About the Author:
H.A. Raynes was inspired to write NATION OF ENEMIES by a family member who was a Titanic survivor and another who escaped Poland in World War II. Combining lessons from the past with a healthy fear of the modern landscape, this novel was born. A longtime member of Boston’s writing community, H.A. Raynes has a history of trying anything once (acting, diving out of a plane, white water rafting, and parenting). Writing and raising children seem to have stuck.
Links
Website: ha-raynes.squarespace.com/home/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/HARaynes
Twitter: @HARaynes & @hollyiswriting
Facebook: facebook.com/HARaynes
***
Giveaway:
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Saturday, 5 September 2015
Author Interivew Roy A. Teel Jr. Rise of the Iron Eagle
On May 11, 1995, at 30, Roy’s life was irrevocably changed. After walking into the hospital, he was admitted and later received the worst possible diagnosis – Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. His doctors gave him two years to live, and he left the hospital in a wheelchair. After battling Multiple Sclerosis for nearly 16 years, Roy began devoting his energies and passions to the full-time art of storytelling. His disability has brought with it an unforeseen blessing. He can finally take medications to alleviate some of the pain from his MS and focus on the pleasures of character creation and the joys of putting words to paper.
As an author, Roy A. Teel Jr. is very diverse, and his works include both fiction and nonfiction. His previous works include The Way, The Truth, and The Lies: How the Gospels Mislead Christians about Jesus’ True Message (2005), Against The Grain: The American Mega-Church and its Culture of Control (2008), Light of Darkness: Dialogues in Death (2008), and And God Laughed (2013).
In 2014, Roy began publishing his latest and largest project – a 30-book geographically-centered hard-boiled, mystery, suspense, thriller crime series: “The Iron Eagle Series.” The main character, a former Marine Corps Black Operative turned rogue FBI agent, hunts serial killers in Los Angeles. Each novel addresses different subjects, and while fiction, all titles deal with real world subject matter. “The Iron Eagle Series” is not about things that can’t hurt you. What happens in these novels can happen to any one of us if we let our guard down and/or are in the wrong place at the wrong time. To learn more, go to http://ironeagleseries.com/
Roy lives in Lake Arrowhead, CA with his wife and children.
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
Interesting question! I write linearly from beginning to end. When I start a new book in the Iron Eagle series, the only thing I have to work from is the prologue that I wrote from the previous book. So, do I know going into each installment in my 30- novel series what’s happening, who the killer or killers are, and where the story is going to lead me? No. Each title has a natural maturation. Robert Frost is right: “no surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.”
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Absolutely, and I allow them to because writing a series is not like writing a single book, whether fiction or nonfiction. I am currently writing book 14 in the Iron Eagle series. At this point, the characters are well defined. They have their own personalities, so when I’m writing it’s like watching a movie in my mind and recording what I see. In a series of this scope, there are characters that will be there until the end. They truly take on a life of their own and, thus, guide the storyline. Do they surprise, scare, amuse, and entertain me? Of course! The Iron Eagle is based in modern day Los Angeles. It’s a series about things that can and do hurt people every day in the real world when they let their guard down or are in the wrong place at the wrong time. While the Iron Eagle is fiction, and the world that he and his fellow characters live in is fiction, what happens on the pages happens in LA and around the world.
What is your favorite food?
Pizza. I’m from New Jersey and lived in New York. There is nothing better than a great slice of pie with sausage, mushrooms, red onions, garlic, and black olives.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Night owl. I have relapsing progressive multiple sclerosis and am now on disability. Sleep does not come easy with my illness as there is a great deal of pain. As a high-level executive prior to retiring on disability in 2011, it was very difficult to run a multimillion-dollar business on only three or four hours of restless pain-riddled sleep. Today, while I am still a night owl, I have the luxury (thanks to a great long-term disability policy and social security disability) of being able to allow my body to run on a more natural cycle and use pain medication as needed to help with sleep. I usually go to bed between four and five a.m. (and, yes, I do write during most of my waking hours).
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
Thanks to business, I have traveled extensively. I have seen the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the same day. I have chased the sun around the world from Los Angeles to Europe, the UK to Asia, and the South Pacific. I have lived the traveler’s life, and I am much happier with my feet on the ground with my wife by my side and my two best furry friends, Sanford (Sandy), our springer spaniel, and Oscar, our tabby cat who rules the house, singing the songs of his ancestors.
Do distant places feature in your books?
The Iron Eagle series is based in Los Angeles, California, a melting pot of cultures and crime. As the second largest city in the United States, virtually any scenario works within its boundaries.
Do you listen to music while writing?
No. I must have silence when I write. My wife and I work only feet apart in different offices here in our home. We both require total silence. My wife will put on noise canceling headphones while she runs her writing and editing business. I am able to ignore most white noise, and once I am in the world of my characters my wife can tell you she can be talking right to me, and I don’t hear a word she says. It’s not just typical male selective hearing. I just tunnel in, and the world falls away.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
Devil’s Chair, the sixth installment in the Iron Eagle series, is set in January in Valyermo, Devil’s Chair, and Devil’s Punchbowl in Los Angeles County. The bodies of several young men have been found, and while there are no signs of foul play, something terrifying is going on in the small farming community. When a missing sales executive is found butchered and neatly wrapped and stacked in a meat locker, LA County Sheriff Jim O’Brian and FBI Special Agents John Swenson and Steve Hoffman must unravel the mystery behind the killings and uncover a terrifying conspiracy.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
I began publishing books 10 years ago, including fiction, nonfiction, and scholarly books that are taught in both secular and religious universities across the U.S. and around the world. Writing is rarely about making a living. It rarely pays bills or puts food on the table. And from experience, I’ve learned that writing is the easy part.
Publishing involves editors, beta readers, book designers, and graphic artists. In the self-published world, there are no advances, and writers are responsible for every detail every step of the way, including publicity and marketing.
Writing and self-publishing is a business. Books are a commodity, a tangible asset mined from blood, sweat, and creative tears. However, in a world where publishing is changing by the hour, where books are competing against upwards of a million other books a day, it is a constant battle to gain readers and an audience.
For those who think they can just write a book and publish it and the rest will just happen ... I’m here to tell you it doesn’t work that way.
Is there anything you would do differently?
There is an old saying, “Hindsight is 20/20.” I’ve missed opportunities, but I have tried to learn from my mistakes. Outside of my obvious health issues, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
The Iron Eagle series was born out of tragedy after the brutal murder of one of my childhood friends at the hands of William Bonin, the Freeway Killer, here in Los Angeles on Memorial Day in 1979. I was 14; my friend was 13. Through that tragic situation, the idea of a protector and vigilante was born. It took nearly 40 years before the exploits of the Eagle would be put to paper. However, the Iron Eagle is now alive and moving in my fiction, and he offers swift and brutal justice for the worst of the worst killers in Los Angeles and Los Angeles County.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Keep your day job. The odds of making a living as a writer are very, very slim. However, be faithful to your craft, practice it daily, take courses, get involved in workshops, but, most importantly, write for yourself and become thick skinned. Write about the things that interest you. In my opinion, there is no such thing as writer’s block. If you sit at the keyboard, the words will come.
What are three words that describe you?
Insatiable, diligent, and aggressive.
What's your favorite book or who is your favorite writer?
First, Ernest Hemingway’s, The Old Man and The Sea, for its lessons in perseverance. Next, John Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men. A story of true love, caring, and compassion. And finally, Ayn Rand’s, Atlas Shrugged. The economic impact of a socialistic America where the more the government gave the more the people wanted. It was not enough that these men and women provided the jobs, the creativity, and sacrificed to make the world a better place. The people cried out for more and government took from the rich and gave to the poor until the “Motor of the world Stopped,” and the world kept asking, “Who is John Galt.”
The Iron Eagle Series, by Roy A. Teel Jr., is a hard-boiled, mystery, horror, suspense, thriller crime series that is expected to span 30 books. The main character, a former Marine Corps Black Operative turned rogue FBI agent, hunts serial killers in Los Angeles. Each novel addresses different subjects, and while fiction, all titles deal with real world subject matter. The Iron Eagle Series is not about things that can’t hurt you. What happens in these novels can happen to any one of us if we let our guard down and/or are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Rise of the Iron Eagle is the first book in The Iron Eagle Series.
Synopsis:
The city of Los Angeles is no stranger to violence. It has both a colorful and grotesque history with it. Sheriff's Homicide Detective Jim O'Brian and FBI Profiler Special Agent Steve Hoffman are also no strangers to the violence of the sprawling metropolis, but in the past decade something has changed. There's a serial killer preying on other serial killers - some known by law enforcement, others well off radar. "The Iron Eagle," a vigilante, extracts vengeance for the victims of Los Angeles' serial killers.
His methods are meticulous and his killings brutal. With each passing day, "The Iron Eagle" moves with impunity through the streets of Los Angeles in search of his prey. O'Brian and Hoffman create an elite task force with the sole purpose of catching "The Eagle" and bringing him to justice. But the deeper they delve, the more apparent it is that he may very well be one of their own. As the two men stare into the abyss of their search, the eyes of "The Iron Eagle" stare back.
Is The Iron Eagle a psychotic serial killer? Or a new breed of Justice?
*Content Warning: The Iron Eagle Crime novel series contains mature subject matter, graphic violence, sexual content, language, torture and other scenes that may be disturbing to sensitive readers. This series is not intended for anyone under the age of eighteen, reader discretion is advised.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
http://ironeagleseries.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RoyATeelJr
https://twitter.com/DrRoyATeelJr
http://www.amazon.com/Roy-A.-Teel-Jr/e/B0036BW18O/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2730973.Roy_A_Teel_Jr_
Sunday, 9 August 2015
Author Interview: J. Frank James
About the Author:
J. Frank James has a passion for writing, and he certainly has the knowledge and experience to write realistic crime thrillers, thanks to his extensive background in law. Jim attended law school, where he was a member of the law review. He even went on to pass the state bar and started his own law practice that specialized in complex litigation. Jim's experience in law helps lend credibility to his crime fiction books. He has also traveled extensively and gains inspiration for his crime thrillers from his travels. From observing other cultures and gaining new experiences, Jim is able to infuse new life into his books and develop believable characters that readers can identify with.
J. Frank James writes crime thriller novels that are gripping and suspenseful. In 2013, he began publishing The Lou Malloy Crime Series, which is expected to span 20 books. The titles include The Run Begins, Dead Money Run, Only Two Cats, Blue Cat in Paradise, Rainbow Games, Two Birds To Kill, Last Flamingo, and Finders, Keepers. J. Frank James creates all of his own book covers. To learn more, go to http://www.jfrankjamesbooks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19406070-dead-money-run
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfrankjamesbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jfj_books
***
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I am not one to do a lot of planning. I think about a subject for a long time. However, for instance, Dead Money Run was a book that just came right out of the blocks and another book titled Voodoo Moon Rising was written about 8 years ago. The protagonist is an Indigo Marsh. So, I guess the answer is, it all depends. Generally, I am not sure when lightning is going to strike me.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
My characters do that all the time. There is nothing I can do about it so I don’t fight it.
What is your favourite food?
I like Cajun food and most Mexican. The hotter the better. However, I can’t take some of the Indian dishes. There are some things even my stomach will not do.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I am a night owl. I like the solitude of the night. Also I like being somewhere I can get a sense of nature. That is why I do a lot of my writing at the coast where my wife and I have a home. When I wake up in the morning, Jake, my 90 pound boxer and I sit on the deck and watch the dolphins swim up the river that flows in the back of my home. Every now and then a family of otters will grace me with their presence. Believe me when I say it is heaven.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Yes, I like to incorporate places that my wife and I have been. So far I have been in a couple dozen countries and six of the seven continents.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Yes, I like to listen to the Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, Jerry Lee Lewis and just about every MoTown singer that was ever on the planet.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
I think the first thing I have learned is how to be patient, not only with myself, but with others trying to help me in this process. I have also learned that I have a lot to learn. I have always been one of those who ignored the torpedoes and just went full speed ahead. To become a good writer requires a bit more in developing a keener since of navigation. As a writer it is not only important to know where you are going, but also to know how you got there.
Is there anything you would do differently?
There is always a thing or two that you would have done differently, but I doubt if I would have done them. I have always been one of those people who judged how deep the water was by simply jumping in.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
I would say that Ernest Hemingway was most influential. After reading his Old Man and the Sea, it was very obvious that it was not only important as a writer to be aware not only as to what you said, but how you said it.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
Obviously one of my favorite books is Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. To be a writer requires that the person be alone. Hemingway’s character in his book embodies that trait and in fact over comes it by showing the people in his little village that he is still a great fisherman and man. In life there can be no greater achievement than being able to prove your self-worth.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
Lou Malloy learns of his sister's death right before he is released from prison, having served 15 years for the theft of $15 million from an Indian casino. He wants two things: to keep the $15 million, which no one has been able to find, and to track down and punish whoever killed his sister.
Lou Malloy teams up with Hilary Kelly, a private investigator. In no time, Lou has found the hidden $15 million, recovered guns and ammunition hidden with the money, and murdered two low-level mobsters and fed them to the crocodiles.
As the body count rises, the story grows more complex and his sister's death becomes more mysterious.
Praise for Dead Money Run:
"Dead Money Run is a hard-boiled thriller. It is a book of short chapters and almost unrelenting excitement as Lou and Hillary Kelly avoid cops, kill mobsters, and try to unravel the mystery of who killed Lou's sister and why.” - Reviewed by Wally Wood at BookPleasures.com
“Fans of James Ellroy and Elmore Leonard are going to love James’ ingenious capers, devious characters and wry humor. The entire book goes down like a strong yet smooth shot of bourbon.” - Reviewed by BestThrillers.com
"Dead Money Run by J. Frank James is a pure adrenalin rush from the very beginning. Yes, it is very violent with some strong language, but filled with excitement that keeps the reader wanting to know what comes next." - Reviewed by Paul Johnson for Readers' Favorite
“J. Frank James did a very nice job constructing a fast moving plot for Dead Money Run. It is intriguing and thrilling. However, the reader should be prepared for a bit of gruesome violence. Yet, the violence doesn’t override the mystery and suspense within the story. Hold on to whatever it is that you’re sitting on as you read this story, because James is about to take you on a wild ride.” – Reviewed by Red City Review
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Book Review: Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton
Little Black Lies
by Sharon Bolton
Thriller/Suspense
Minotaur Books
5 Stars
Review Copy from Netgalley
Blurb:
In such a small community as the Falkland Islands, a missing child is unheard of. In such a dangerous landscape it can only be a terrible tragedy, surely...
When another child goes missing, and then a third, it’s no longer possible to believe that their deaths were accidental, and the villagers must admit that there is a murderer among them. Even Catrin Quinn, a damaged woman living a reclusive life after the accidental deaths of her own two sons a few years ago, gets involved in the searches and the speculation.
And suddenly, in this wild and beautiful place that generations have called home, no one feels safe and the hysteria begins to rise.
But three islanders—Catrin, her childhood best friend, Rachel, and her ex-lover Callum—are hiding terrible secrets. And they have two things in common: all three of them are grieving, and none of them trust anyone, not even themselves.
In Little Black Lies, her most shocking and engaging suspense novel to date, Sharon Bolton will keep the reader guessing until the very last page.
Review:
I have read every book Sharon Bolton has ever written. And while I do like her Lacey Flint series, I love her standalone novels more. So when I read the blurb for this new standalone novel, I jumped at the chance to read and review. I was not disappointed for a moment.
The setting is unusual, all I know about the Falklands were that it was the scene of conflict in the 1980s and that there are penguins. The islands are a small community, so everyone knows or thinks they know everyone else's business.
Almost three years to the day when Rachel was responsible for the death of Catrin's two sons, another child goes missing. This time one of the visitor's children, but in the past two years two other children have also disappeared and never been found. No one wants to think they are living with a murderer among them and suspicion for this third disappearance falls on the visitors from the cruise ship.
But the other two children disappeared when there were no visitors. The small community is coming to the conclusion that they must face facts - perhaps someone on the islands is a murderer. It could be someone they know, someone they trust, someone they love...
The book is told through the eyes of three characters: Catrin, Rachel and Callum, Catrin's ex-lover. But all three are damaged characters and there may be a case of unreliable narration going on - Catrin is still grieving over the deaths of her children, Callum suffers from PTSD and blackouts where he doesn't know what he's done and Rachel seems to be suffering from post-natal depression two years after the birth of her youngest son.
There are so many twists and turns in the book it's like a maze and just when you think you have it all figured out, you haven't. The author knows how to keep the tension and the attention going. You just have to read on to see what happens next.
It's a book about pain and loss, grief and understanding, but most of all it's a book about characters. Ms. Bolton has created a memorable trio with Catrin, Callum and Rachel and you know that for evermore their lives will be intertwined, no matter what happens.
I did have one niggle with the book, but that's only a preference, most of it is written in the present tense, which is not my favourite for a novel. But because I love the writer, I carried on reading. And in such a tense situation, the present tense did give it a sense of urgency that perhaps past tense wouldn't have.
A great read.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Book Review: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend by David Kessler
by David Kessler
An Alex Sedaka Thriller
Thriller/Crime Drama
5 Stars
Blurb:
SWITZERLAND - the Jungfrau Region: A wealthy young man dies in a skiing accident.
SAN FRANCISCO: A few months later, two homeless men stagger into a bar. One of them leaves his friend there, but minutes later the friend is stabbed by another homeless man: George Stone.
Arrested at the scene and charged with murder with special circumstances, Stone asks for Alex Sedaka to represent him. However, it soon becomes apparent that this is anything but a straightforward case of violence between homeless people. After all, how many homeless people have $2000 on them. And why would a homeless killer leave such a large sum on his victim? Also... why is the British Prime Minister taking such an interest in the murder of a homeless "John Doe" over five thousand miles away?
But when Homeland Security become involved and an attempt is made on the accused man's life, both Alex and the DA realize that matters are running out of control. And as powerful forces up the ante, Alex also has to face the fact that his client isn't the only one in danger.
Review:
I've never read any of the previous books featuring lawyer Alex Sedaka, but that doesn't really matter. This is a novel that stands on its own with a few mentions of the cases Alex dealt with previously, but you don't need to know all about those to enjoy this book. And it is an enjoyable book. Alex is a very likeable character, he's very down to earth, has normal troubles like everyone else but does his job to the best of his ability.
What I liked best about this book was at no time did it turn into a soap opera. It wasn't about who was sleeping with who (or not), the main focus was on the crime and Alex's client's part in it. Yes, Alex and his law firm partner Juanita have a personal life (not with each other), but those parts were few and far between before we got back to the main meat of the story.
There are twists and turns, red herrings galore and you don't really find out what is really going on right till the end. It's a fast-paced, easily read book and you find yourself getting lost in it, wondering what the next revelation is going to be. It keeps you guessing right till the last and I was surprised by both twists near the end. A great read.
Reviewed by Annette Gisby
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Book Review: The Black Mile by Mark Dawson
The Black Mile
by Mark Dawson
Historical/Crime/Thriller
4 Stars
The book is available from amazon and amazon uk
Blurb:
London, 1940: the Luftwaffe blitzes London every night for fifty-seven nights. Houses, shops and entire streets are wiped from the map. The underworld is in flux: the Italian criminals who dominated the West End have been interned and now their rivals are fighting to replace them. Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, the Black-Out Ripper sharpens his knife and sets to his grisly work.
Henry Irving is a disgraced reporter on a Fleet Street scandal rag. Genius detective sergeant Charlie Murphy is a fresh face in the Metropolitan police, hunting corrupt colleagues but blinkered by ambition and jealousy. His brother, detective inspector Frank Murphy, searches frantically for his runaway daughter, terrified that she will be the killer’s next victim.
As the Ripper stalks the terrified streets, the three men discover that his handiwork is not quite what it seems. Conspirators are afoot, taking advantage of the chaos to settle old scores. The murders invade the lives of the victims and victimizers on both sides of the law, as everyone is sucked deeper and deeper into Soho’s black heart.
Based on a little known true story, The Black Mile is a rollercoaster ride of a novel that was previously the most downloaded novel on the Kindle Store.
Review:
The content of this book could have been taken straight from today's headlines: corruption in the police force, journalists making up sensationalist stories, scandals involving the great and the good of the realm, a murderer preying on prostitutes in the West End. But this story is based on a true killing spree that happened in the 1940s.
When I first started the book, I was a little bit wary, as there were quite a few newspaper reports and police reports rather than narrative. Was the whole book going to be like this? Thankfully, no, but there are a few other newspaper and police reports dotted throughout.
The story unfolds through the eyes of three characters: Frank Murphy, a Detective Inspector and his brother Charlie, also a policeman, who has always felt in Frank's shadow and a Fleet Street journalist, who was called Henry Drake in the book, not Irving, I think the blurb may have been wrong there.
As well as being a murder mystery, the story is also a character study of these three men and how the case affects each of them differently. Henry wants a great scoop so his bosses won't think of firing him, even if he has added some embellishments to his stories in the past. Frank is at loggerheads with his wife and daughter and his brother Charlie is determined to make a name for himself, even if that means going to internal affairs and chasing after his colleagues.
1940s London comes vividly to live, but at no time did you think you were reading a history book or attending a lecture. It's a story and Mr. Dawson is a great storyteller. The book is gripping, although I thought the pace flagged a little bit in the middle, but then got going again near the end. I don't want to give away the storyline entirely, but let's just say there is a twist and I didn't guess it, which is a lovely surprise for me. Usually I can guess a twist a mile off, having read so many mysteries.
An interesting crime thriller with a twist.
Reviewed by Annette Gisby
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Book Spotlight: JusThis by Curt Rude
by Curt Rude
Thriller/Crime
Blurb:
A man who enters the police profession for all the wrong reasons. As he is promoted; his feelings of entitlement increase. His frustration at not being in a position to satisfy his sexual desires began at a very young age. He was aggravated with his inability to act upon his cravings. As he serves and protects his increasingly stronger desires become more difficult to control. Initially, his chosen profession allows him access to what has always eluded him. Ultimately, his obsession results in a permanent consequence.
One way or another, various people find that they are snared into the Chief’s lurid lifestyle. In an effort to confront the unthinkable, they must face a broad range of human behaviors and emotions. The town of Normal will never be the same as characters grapple with issues of love, resentments, depression, jealousy, sexual assault, cybersex, bullying, unethical police conduct, corruption, suicide and death.
The author draws on approximately 30 years of law enforcement experience to weave his tale. He attended the Universities of Winona, Mankato, Virginia and picked up a Masters at St Cloud State under the auspices of Doctor John Campbell, a master FBI Profiler. During the course of his career he held positions including internal affairs, patrol, supervision and departmental leadership. As is the way of life, a surprising event occurred during the course of his career - the long, nasty, felonious finger of the law was pointed at him. Only his former Chief, who resigned after allegations of adult internet allegations, will ever know why. Rude was highly decorated for his activities while serving the public. He was directly involved with people who would think nothing of committing murder, rape and other unthinkable acts. He is determined to share his stories in a quest to debunk the myth that monsters are make believe.
Read an extract of the book after the jump:
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Book Spotlight: 72 Hour Protocol by Howard Manson
by Howard Manson
Thriller/Espionage
Blurb:
An American scientist with knowledge of nuclear secrets is abducted in China, interrogated, and tortured before being spirited away into a three-day mind-melt in this debut spy thriller from Howard Manson.
Katherine Richmond has two secrets. The Chinese want one of them—and the Americans, embroiled in the political scandal that brought her here, want her to give it to them!
But she isn’t talking, and it falls to ex-Ranger, double agent, master interrogator and torturer, Chinese/American Michael Sunday to use any means possible to learn what she knows.
Three days of constant running, without sleep, they grow close and begin to share a personal hope together. As the certainty of her fate as spy becomes all-to clear to them, they fiercely battle all sides in an effort to save her life…or at least that’s what he says they’re doing.
In China where Tao is The Way, it’s wise to remember: Warfare is the Tao of Deception.
…the conversations between Sunday and Katherine keep the narrative moving regardless of the evil political machinations going on around them.
Their back-and-forth banter feels natural and fluid, making these two more interesting and relatable by the page.
Manson’s clear technical knowledge of the work Sunday does, whether interrogation or inflicting pain, is impressive.
The couple’s strange desire for success, unwillingness to compromise and sudden passion for one another all lend depth and nuance…
…strong characterization and an impressive ear for dialogue. –Kirkus Reviews
http://www.greatreads.intheuk.me
https://umenow.com/books
Read an extract of the book after the jump
Author Interview: Howard Manson
Howard Manson is the pen name for Kim Chamberlain.
Kim Chamberlain is the name given to a boy who grew up taking a lot of crap because his name was Kim.
Tall and skinny, not a great fighter living in a series of harsh environments, at an early age, Kim learned the art of quickly evaluating personalities, strengths and weaknesses, and then using that to mess-up people’s minds, both defensively and proactively, as a means to avoid getting his butt kicked, or to stay out of trouble with the adults.
His entire adult life has been spent unlearning this behavior and redirecting those talents into the fictional pathologies and behaviors of his characters.
Learning the spy business for fiction purposes is simply a matter of reading and retaining the information in many hundreds of books, mostly non-fiction, and talking to people who know what’s up. Knowing how to make characters stand-up off the page and visit with you is a priceless gift and worth the harshness of the education.
Howard, on the other hand, is all business, writing extensively researched and meticulously organized spy-fiction. 72 Hour Protocol: is Howard’s debut thriller.
“Manson’s clear technical knowledge of the work Sunday does, whether interrogation or inflicting pain, is impressive.” --Kirkus Reviews
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I do both, but I refer to spy-fiction as ‘technical writing about people,’ so I had to read forty non-fiction books and outline the scenes and sequences before I wrote anything. My book is an accounting of a three-day interrogation, and a good interrogator must research his subject and plan the interrogation thoroughly.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Most of the main characters are government or military and they heel-to pretty well. The first word in a description of Katherine, however, is ‘willful.’ So when she’d get out of hand, I’d have to send the authorities after her. Most of the locals in the story just do as they wish; they have no idea what’s going on.
What is your favourite food?
Sushi, dim-sum, and Fatburger (the world’s best hamburger).
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Night.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I wanted to get a group together and make the motorcycle trip through Eastern China that Michael and Katherine make in the book. I spent many hundreds of hours on Google Earth plotting this route, as well as Flicker, travellers’ blogs and city and business websites: all the landscapes and buildings and street names are correct—with allowances for the lag in imagery updates.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Always. 72HP takes place in Eastern China: Nanjing, Wuhan, Shanghai, Suzhou, and all around Taihu (lake Tai). I have a new novella that moves from China, through India, and on into some unsavory, unnamed desert land.
Do you listen to music while writing?
No.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
72 Hour Protocol: is an action spy thriller in which the love story is the reason for the book. I wanted people to feel something I was feeling about my late wife. The structure of the book is what it is to mask the developing emotion in the reader (hopefully) enabling the end to work. The plot is remarkably simple: Katherine Richmond has a secret that she’s not telling; Michael Sunday has three days to find out what it is—and use it to save her life. The purpose of the book is made clear in the closing dedication.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
Imagining a story is art; creating a story is craft; selling a story is a business.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I love my girls too much to make that gamble.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
Everyone, and everything! I am obsessed with improving as a ‘people-renderer’ in fiction. I have a fairly mediocre imagination, so I try to hang on to any observation about any person I see, because someday, that tidbit of humanness is going to be the exact thing I need to make something work in a story.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
So much so that my original author’s page for the book morphed into EspionageMagazine.com, a professional looking web-magazine where new writers can see their stories in print, and then want to make them better.
Or, Don’t get angry; don’t cry; don’t quit—or get angry; cry; don’t quit—read more!
What are three words that describe you?
Coffee. Tired. Coffee.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
Much like a first love, the books that created the foundation for whatever it is I do when I write are: Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.; Crime and Punishment and The Possessed by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte; The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, by John le Carre.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
72 Hour Protocol
An American scientist with knowledge of nuclear secrets is abducted in China, interrogated, and tortured before being spirited away into a three-day mind-melt in this debut spy thriller from Howard Manson.
Katherine Richmond has two secrets. The Chinese want one of them—and the Americans, embroiled in the political scandal that brought her here, want her to give it to them!
But she isn’t talking, and it falls to ex-Ranger, double agent, master interrogator and torturer, Chinese/American Michael Sunday to use any means possible to learn what she knows.
Three days of constant running, without sleep, they grow close enough to find they share a personal hope together. As the certainty of her fate as spy becomes all-to clear to them, they fiercely battle all sides in an effort to save her life…or at least that’s what he says they’re doing.
In China where Tao is The Way, it’s wise to remember: Warfare is the Tao of Deception.
List of previous books if any
Nothing professionally published.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
EspionageMagazine.com
Facebook.com/espionagemagazine
Pinterest.com/spymag
Indie Wriers’ Network
NAIWE
BookBlogs
Thanks, and good luck with your books :)
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