Today I’m going to be reviewing Blind Rage (Under the Breaking Sky #1) by Nick Clausen.
Here’s the blurb
It’s an ordinary Monday.
Until everything changes forever.
At 2:44 PM, a mysterious crack appears in the sky.
Anyone unfortunate enough to look up is immediately struck blind. What’s worse, their mind is wiped clean, replaced with a vicious urge to kill anyone within reach.
Mark is at work when it happens. Fighting not to fall asleep, the boring department meeting suddenly turns into a bloodbath when people are drawn to the windows to look up at the sky.
Down at the street, Gina just finished shopping and now finds herself thrown into a scene from a horror movie, as everyone around her begins beating each other to death.
Stopping at a red light, Tommy’s stepdad leans forward to gaze upwards. Without warning, Tommy is trapped inside the car with a mindless monster intent on killing him.
Now, these ordinary people must stand together in the fight for mankind, or die along with it. As the crack grows bigger, more and more people succumb to the rage. Societies collapse and the world is plunged into mayhem.
And there seems to be no cure. No safe haven. Not even an explanation.
Only blind rage.
Review
Oh wow.. this was just what I needed!
It’s a typical day but suddenly the world is turned upside down..a crack of some sort appears in the sky and it’s appearance brings about a change in those who look directly at it..
Those unfortunate turn blind and are full of rage.. the interesting part is not everyone is affected.. some are immune..
What I really enjoyed was the development of the blind, they aren’t simple savages.. they are smart and strong.. able to communicate and plan..how on earth can they be stopped.
I’m not going to spoil it for anyone but not only do we have the immune but there’s one individual who knows what’s coming.. he doesn’t have all the details but knows something is coming and when the worst happens he knows it’s time to pick his side..
I want to say it’s a typical zombie apocalypse.. but it’s not, it’s something completely different and fresh..while the blind act like zombies, they aren’t zombies.. they aren’t dead.. but can they be cured? Pfft I’m actually not sure how anyone will survive the onslaught.
The most interesting bit for me was the impulse people had to look at the crack when it appeared.. it’s like they can’t control themselves..
I liked the differing perspectives as multiple characters were introduced, there’s lots to take in but the pace is perfect. We then explore the issues the non-blind face in this new world they are forced to live in…no one knows how or when the crack will appear again.. but why would it only appear once? There’s lots of unknowns but some people act fast securing themselves as much as they can.. but can these doors hold?
The characters deal with difficult topics like dealing with loss but also about guilt.. to live they must fight..and sometimes it’s someone close to them that stands in the way of survival.
Overall a dark and intense tale, the plot was fresh and intriguing and put a spin on the typical tales.
Today is my turn on the blog tour for Thor’s Revenge by Donovan Cook.
Thor’s Revenge is Book 3 in the awesome Charlemagne’s Cross series.
Here’s the blurb
A kingdom without a crown.
A boy forsaken by his God.
A warrior bent on revenge.
After the bloody Battle of Jelling, Denmark’s throne lies empty and chaos reigns as Jarls jostle for power.
Sven survives the bloodshed only to return home to find Ribe sacked by those he trusted and Charles, a pawn in a much bigger political game, kidnapped.
Consumed by the loss of Charles, Sven is shocked by the arrival of the Abbess Hildegard, daughter of his nemesis King Louis of East Francia, who seeks the whereabouts of Charles, her son, and also the cross of Charlemagne.
But whilst others want revenge for the chaos Sven has caused, Denmark burns and Sven must stand in the shield wall one more time if he is to survive and rescue his grandson.
Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, Sven and Charles must put their fate in the hands of the gods if they ever want to see each other again.
Review
We are back with Charles and Sven the Boar..
Sven returns home after a fierce battle.. you’d think surviving a battle is something to celebrate but not this time… many many many men died and Denmark no longer has a King… this has left bands of disbanded and leaderless warriors ransacking Denmark…
And that’s only part of Sven’s trouble… he learned that his grandson Charles has been taken..Charles is Sven’s redemption in life so his loss breaks the man but at least this time he has people around him to try and knock some sense into him.
His anger soon returns when Abbess Hildegard arrives and pushes him a little too far… there’s a blast from the past that I’ll not spoil but by god I felt the fury pouring of Sven… Abbess Hildegard who we learn is Charles mother so we finally get to learn more about why Charles has been brought up to believe she was dead…I could only imagine how this felt for Charles as he learns the truth about himself.. who he really is.
I really enjoyed that we also learned more about the cross that Charles has been carrying ever since his father’s murder.. Charlemagne’s Cross… of which, if the stories are believed has the power to reunite Francia..
What really makes this instalment shine is the character development, not only do we meet and get to know new characters we see some established characters grow, Thora, Rollo and Sven all have a greater depth added to them while they deal with the aftermath of the battle and Charles kidnap.
Charles’ himself has some very big things to deal with.. being kidnapped… the deaths that have occurred to keep him safe.. it becomes his internal struggle and we see his faith in god shaken…
Plot wise… oh wow… it develops at a fast pace but nothing is really rushed or forced…but by god there’s a lot crammed in and credit to the author that it’s been done in such a well balanced way allowing the reader to keep up the events…and the ending!!! Oh my.. I need more!!
The Charlemagne’s Cross series has quick become a firm favourite!
5/5 stars.
To find out more head to Goodreads or why not buy a copy here?
My thanks go to @rararesources for having me on the tour, as well as the author and publisher for supplying an ARC to aid my review. As usual though… I’ve bought the book too. At £2.99 It’s too good not too!
Why not follow the tour?
Author Bio –
Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series and the Charlemagne’s Cross series, both of which combine fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world and are inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. Donovan was born in South Africa but raised in England.
Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for EXSILIUM by Alison Morton!
Screenshot
Keep reading for a little Q&A too! Alison is a firm favourite on my blog so I quite enjoyed coming up with some questions to see what’s next 😊
Here’s the blurb
Exile – Living death to a Roman
AD 395. In a Christian Roman Empire, the penalty for holding true to the traditional gods is execution.
Maelia Mitela, her dead husband condemned as a pagan traitor, leaving her on the brink of ruin, grieves for her son lost to the Christians and is fearful of committing to another man.
Lucius Apulius, ex-military tribune, faithful to the old gods and fixed on his memories of his wife Julia’s homeland of Noricum, will risk everything to protect his children’s future.
Galla Apulia, loyal to her father and only too aware of not being the desired son, is desperate to escape Rome after the humiliation of betrayal by her feckless husband
For all of them, the only way to survive is exile.
Note: EXSILIUM is the sequel to JULIA PRIMA and the two books make up the Foundation strand in the Roma Nova series.
Review
I’m not sure how Alison Morton manages to, but once again the reader is given another powerful read that builds on the fabulous Roma Nova series.
What hit me straight away was the emotion..from the very first page we explore fate..destiny.. so beautifully written but so heart wrenching.
If you’ve read the rest of the series you’ll know about the strong characters and a very plot driven tale, what Exsilium offers the reader is a bit more history.. the beginnings of this fabulous place the author has envisaged, it builds on the humanity of the time and the characters.
The author tackles very real issues such as religious intolerance within the pollical landscape and while set in a different time period you can’t help but see similarities with the world we live in.. there’s a realness to the characters and their depth just pours off the page but in typical style for the author the overall message is positive.. we all deal with the bad side of the world but we need to keep striving for better.. it might not change our world as we know it but we can create positive changes for future generations…that’s what Roma Nova is for me.. a bastion shining in the dark.
I never like to spoil books but what I can say is Exsilium fits is superbly and builds on what is already a strong and established series. To manage to do this.. wow..Morton continues to do justice to the series and the dream of Roma Nova.
5/5 Stars
My thanks to Alison Morton for an ARC to aid my review, I bought a copy too as always 🙂
To find out more or to grab a copy use the links below! Remember keeping read.. 10 questions with Alison Morton is up next!!
Your newest book, EXSILIUM, is book 11 in your amazing Roma Nova series. Did you always envisage the series having such longevity or has the series just developed as time passed?
Good question! I only wanted to write a book. One book. This became INCEPTIO featuring heroine Carina. Then I realised I wanted to know what happened to my characters and so I wrote PERFIDITAS and SUCCESSIO.
Writing SUCCESSIO, which was definitely going to be the last book – it’s fun, but an exhausting business – I became intensely interested in Carina’s grandmother’s earlier life. What part had she played in the Great Rebellion? What was her relationship with the notorious usurper in Roma Nova’s past? So another book was needed – AURELIA. Of course, I had too much story, so two more books emerged full of the rebellion and resistance – INSURRECTIO and RETALIO. I was chuffed when Conn Iggulden endorsed the former and Doug Jackson and Matthew Harffy the latter.
After that, I couldn’t leave it alone and decided to have a crack at writing a novella so dropped CARINA into the first trilogy to recount an adventure between INCEPTIO and PERFIDITAS and NEXUS into the second trilogy between AURELIA and INSURRECTIO. No longer trilogies, I named the four 21st century thrillers as ‘The Carina strand’ and the second four which take place 1960s to 1980s ‘The Aurelia strand’, all with new covers. Talk about making trouble for myself!
The two historical fiction novels – JULIA PRIMA and EXSILIUM – are all the fault of my fans who wanted to know the full origin story of Roma Nova. But I loved writing them!
EXSILIUM starts with a very emotional charged few scenes, did you find this hard to write? I know I felt overwrought after reading those beautifully written words, but it sets the tone so well, strength flows through.
Yes, I felt completely wrung out when I’d finished writing those scenes. But those events are an intrinsic part of the Roma Nova backstory, even since INCEPTIO, so I had to gather up my grit as Carina would say, and write it.
Where do you see the series going now? Are you tempted to choose a different subject matter for your next book?
I don’t know! I do wonder if readers might want something different. I published a book of short stories a few years ago – the two historical novels are a development of one of them – and I might so the same based on some other unpublished stories. I solved the mystery of the disappearance of Carina’s mother in a short story at the back of the INCEPTIO anniversary hardback edition, so I won’t go there again. I may look at the part the Roma Novans played in the Battle of Vienna in 1683, but the research could be enormous. We’ll see!
Have you started on the next book yet? I feel like you clearly put a lot of yourself into your work so can imagine you must have some half-written plots waiting to be fleshed out?
I’ve written the first chapter of the next Mélisende contemporary thriller in the Doubles series as I haven’t finished with her yet. It’s also good to have a complete change of environment.
Like most writers, I use some of my experiences and knowledge from before writing novels and research what I don’t know. And yes, there are a lot of stories in my head especially from my time in the military, but a number of which I can’t tell anybody about…
Some genres can be quite saturated with male authors, did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
I did experiment with using initials for my first and middle names with the two Roma Nova boxsets, but it made absolutely no impact either way on sales. My readership is about 40% male and 60% female which I count as good, given that the average of book buyers is reckoned to be over 70% female.
The other problem is having to double up on PR and marketing, especially social media. Maintaining Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads and BlueSky plus my monthly newsletter is enough for one me.
What do you feel makes a great story?
Good characters, undoubtedly. A strong plot is essential in any thriller, but the characters must drive the story. If the reader doesn’t root for the characters, cry with them and celebrate with them, even the most clever and twisty plot can fall short. Close behind is setting which includes time period as well as physical setting. What’s happening in that world, what’s the weather like? How do people prosper or even survive? Where does the main threat come from in that place and time?
What is your favourite part of being a writer?
When the characters try to take over the story. It’s uncanny. One other is when I hold a print copy, usually a paperback in my hands for the first time. And a third would be talking about the books or writing at an event. I love sharing the Roman and Roma Nova love!
What’s your favourite under-appreciated book?
What a difficult question! This might sound a strange answer, but Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is much quoted and the title has become a public saying, but how many people have actually read it? Academics, possibly serious fiction writers and really dedicated enthusiasts of the Roman Empire. Yet its impact is massive on how we see that civilisation.
What was the most recent book you’ve read yourself that you would recommend?
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – clever, witty, trenchant. A milestone study through tragi-comedy of America in the 1950 with an acerbic, hugely engaging and sympathetic protagonist. I adored it.
As hard as this might be… how would you sum up the Roma Nova series for anyone who hasn’t yet delved into the world you’ve created.
Suppose, just suppose, history had gone down a slightly different path. What would a 21st century Europe look like if a tiny part of the Ancient Roman Empire had survived?
Roma Nova is that country and embodies a distinct but modern Roman lifestyle in a country led by women and where honour and courage count. Of course, there are traitors, conspirators and criminals – a truly Roman society!
The Roma Nova heroines serve as Praetorian officers, industry leaders, technologists, inventors and senators, with an imperatrix as their ruler.
But its heroines and heroes face conspiracy, revolution and heartache and must use their wits, courage and a sharp line in dialogue to defend their country against all comers. The latest adventure, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the dawn of the foundation of Roma Nova.
Thank you Alison for taking the time to answer some questions for me 🙂
Bio
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. The latest, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the very foundation of Roma Nova.
She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit.
Today I’m going to be reviewing The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza.
Here’s the blurb
Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one.
When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Fosteris called in to lead the murder investigation.
The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London.
What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?
As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.
The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?
Review
I can’t believe this is my first foray into the works of Robert Bryndza but it proves word of mouth and reviews do help. I’ve seen time and time again good things so when I had a little time spare I thought it was about time I give the author a read and see what the fuss is about.
After a very creepy opening that sets the scene superbly and a body is found we meet Detective Erika Foster.
Foster is to lead the murder investigation, but she’s got her own personal baggage coming along too that she has to deal with. I honestly don’t feel you can have a real police procedural type book without that human edge so straight off it’s a big tick for me to know Erkia isn’t perfect and has to find a balance in life as we all do.
I loved the plot and Foster’s no nonsense attitude.. There’s blockers put in her way, pressure from above and the locals but that won’t stop her finding the truth..but those twists along the way were fantastic. Typically when reading this type of book I’m always thinking.. trying to piece things together myself but with The Girl in the Ice I just found myself swept along for the ride.. it’s a harrowing murder but it makes for an engrossing tale and is 1000% times better than some of the stories I’ve seen dramatized for TV.
I particularly liked that the lead role is a female, this just added an extra something as it meant the author could explore the male/female dynamic within the investigation team.
Erika develops and grows quickly as a character and it was amazing to see how fast the author cements her position and style, it was really exciting to feel the cogs turning for her as the pieces fell into place.
Character development is something vitally important to me but what Bryndza seems to effortlessly do is mix that development quickly and in a suitable way leaving the plot to shine… and what a plot it is!
I’m very much late to the party, but better late than never and after learning this was the author’s debut! WOW. Bryndza doesn’t put a foot wrong,
I dare you to pick this up and try to put it back down after a couple chapters… it’s practically impossible.. you’ll be sucked in.
Luckily for me since I’m that late to getting into this there’s no wait for the next in the series.. or the next.. or the next ha ha. Best prepare the wife now then that I’m going to be busy for a bit and to cancel any social activities planned ha 😊
Today I’m reviewing Dark Revelations: Level 26: Book Three (Level 26 Thriller 3) by Anthony E. Zuiker
Here’s the blurb
Steve Dark has been tasked by the FBI with the ultimate search-and-destroy mission: to take down the world’s most dangerous serial killers. Now he faces the most intricate, intense, and explosive case of his career.
The killer calls himself Labyrinth. The riddles, puzzles, and wordplay with which he announces his new targets have caused a worldwide media sensation. The case has already claimed a number of high profile individuals as its victims – not to mention several government agencies, which have tried and failed to stop a growing global panic.
But what point is Labyrinth trying to make? Who will be his next victim? It’s up to Dark to assemble an elite team from the remains of the international crime-solving community, find Labyrinth wherever he may be, and put a stop to the mayhem, once and for all.
But the mystery of who, where and what Labyrinth is, is the biggest riddle of them all. And if Dark doesn’t solve it, he knows he’ll be the next victim . . .
Review
In Dark Revelations Steve Dark joins a new team, Global Alliance. They have the funds and the connections that will allow Steve to do what he does best.. and that’s stop the worst of the worst..
Steve’s newest target is Labyrinth.. but the hunt is going to take him on a collision course with his old team, Riggins and Constance. They don’t understand why he’s left them behind.. and I think Steve just doesn’t care at this stage.. he’s a one man band.. he doesn’t want a team.. something Global Alliance will find out shortly..the team doesn’t exactly gel.
Labyrinth was a very interesting villain.. he’s got secrets that he’s willing to spill..I was conflicted if I’m honest.. his actions are despicable but he’s trying to right the world.. and that’s something I can get onboard with.
It’s been a very interesting series, and this book read as a standalone is pretty decent but if you compare to the 1st instalment it’s lost a little shine.. the original team..the red tape.. the realism.. that’s what hooked me in. Don’t get me wrong the plot was still really engaging and the added cut scenes you can access online really give it an extra punch but I felt we lost a little of the Steve Dark I loved.
I wish we had more time to see the team connections within Global Alliance and really would have loved to see Riggins and Constance join forces with Steve’s new team properly..
Overall a very interesting series that I’m glad I took the time to read. Shame there isn’t more.
Today I’m reviewing The Fallen Girls: (Detective Clara Jefferies Book 1) by Kathryn Casey.
Here’s the blurb
She didn’t notice the corn stalks shiver a few feet to her right. By the time she looked up, the man towered above her. In a single movement he wrapped one thick hand around her waist, the other he clamped over her mouth, muffling her screams.
Detective Clara Jefferies has spent years running from her childhood in Alber, Utah. But when she hears that her baby sister Delilah has disappeared, she knows that the peaceful community will be shattered, her family vulnerable, and that that she must face up to her past and go home.
Clara returns to find that her mother, Ardeth, has isolated her family by moving to the edge of town, in the shadow of the mountains. Ardeth refuses to talk to the police and won’t let Clara through the front door, believing she and her sister-wives can protect their own. But Clara knows better than anyone that her mother isn’t always capable of protecting her children.
When Clara finds out that two more girls have disappeared, all last seen around the cornfields near her family’s home, she realizes it’s not just Delilah who’s in danger. And then she gets a call that a body has been found…
Clara will have to dig deep into the town’s secrets if she’s going to find Delilah. But that will mean confronting the reason she left. And as she gets closer to Delilah, she might be putting her more at risk…
Review
Detective Clara Jefferies escaped her home town many years ago… and didn’t look back….but it’s time to head home when her sister Delilah goes missing.
Clara has to face her past.. and judgement from everyone including her own family.. she needs to break down the walls to discover what has happened to her sister but no one is willing to talk.. she’s now an outsider.. and I think some are just angry she escaped and they didn’t!
Things get more tense when it becomes clear Dalilah isn’t the first young girl to go missing..
The town is full of secrets and the residents continue to stonewall the investigation but Clara knows she has to pile on the pressure to get some answers and fast! Time is running out to find her sister.
The Fallen Girls has a very tense, creepy feeling from the onset.. Clara was raised in an isolated polygamist society so you quickly see why no one is willing to trust her.. but soon she starts to make a little headway..but the slow pace just adds to the building tension!
As the story progresses we see events play out from different perspectives at times and this just added to the creepiness and psychological edge to the tale as you tried to work out who the killer is.. and why…most importantly will Detective Jefferies put the clues together and get there in time?
Not only was the plot intriguing but Kathryn Casey managed to portray the people, the setting, the emotions brilliantly..there was a very natural feel to the tale and that made it even more creepy.
When it comes to endings.. WOW.. those last few chapters had me gripped as the pieces came together as the action heated up.
Overall The Fallen Girls is dark, gritty and disturbingly brilliant. It’s like one of those true crime programmes or podcasts.. it’s so gruesomely enthralling.
Today I’m going to be reviewing Usurper: (Victorinus Book 2) by Adam Lofthouse!
Here’s the blurb
The second book in a thrilling new series of adventures set in Roman Britain. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, SJA Turney and Gordon Doherty.
Wall of Hadrian. Britannia, 382 AD
War is creeping back into the land. As silent as snowfall, as inevitable as winter. They’ve had sixteen years of peace, but all things must end.
Tribune Sixtus Victorinus has grown old, complacent. Blind to the truth that stares him in the face, he contents himself with what he has. He runs errands for the Dux Britanniarum Flavius Maximus and watches with joy as his boys grow to become men.
It is his friend, Prefect Gaius Felicius, who first spots the signs. Once more, the Caledonian tribes are rearing their heads in the north, but the greatest danger does not lie with them.
For there is a new pretender to the throne of the West. Another man who seeks to drape himself in purple. Caught up in a scheme they cannot comprehend, Victorinus and Felicius must navigate their way through both a war in the depths of winter, and a treasonous plot that will shake the Roman Empire to its core.
A new age dawns on the men of the Britannia. For Victorinus, he must fight for the right to see the sun rise over it.
Usurper is the second book in the Victorinus series: an action packed, immersive military adventure that will sweep the reader through the tumultuous years of the late Roman Empire.
Review
Oh it’s good to have another book from Adam Lofthouse! The author never fails to surprise me with his masterfully woven tales.
As a fan of the author I’m of course going to tell you to read all his other books if you can, especially Victorinus Book 1, but truthfully the plot is so wonderfully written you don’t need to, all the detail is right there to get you up to speed quickly but at the same time naturally. If you haven’t read the 1st book I can guarantee after reading this you’ll want to that’s for sure!
I’m not going to say I’m an expert but I love this period of time.. Maximus, Theodosius and Gratian.. well known names to me and the genre but Lofthouse manages to bring some fresh energy to the scene!
We follow Tribune Sixtus Victorinus and Felicius as they serve the empire to the best of their ability.. but little do they know what’s coming for them. They once saved the empire from the biggest threat possible… and they are going to have to do it again!
War is coming and there’s plenty of battles for the gore fans, and I really liked the details added to formations of the horse units for example to help the reader really understand their place in the battles.. it’s like a chess game and a bad strategy can cause you a defeat.. but at the same time.. don’t take things for granted.. they might just be playing games with you..
Both characters are thrown into the thick of danger at every turn of the page..it’s just a full on adrenaline rush of the tale.. each forced to fight to stay alive.. but who are the enemies really? If you know the period you’ll have a good idea, the political landscape at the time was complicated to say the least and the men of the time only wanted one thing… power!
If anything I feel Adam Lofthouse just keeps getting better and better with his plot and the subtle details that make the characters come alive. I particularly liked that the author showed how tough being in the army could be on the soldiers’ feet! I doubt many of us today could march like the roman legions!
What really shines through is the relationships between the men.. forged in the heat of battle…theirs friendship, family, love.. it’s so beautifully lovely and brutal at the same time..then throw in those twists! Christ.. my heart could barely take it! if the author makes me worry about Amor in the next book as much as in this one I think I’ll be writing a strongly worded letter for sure ha ha.
I’m going to be perfectly honest and say I reckon the author needs to give the character Drost his own series now! Oh how I loved that man and his humour! He’s got so much going for him and I really could see his own tale working.
The setup for the next book in the series couldn’t have been better.. what Lofthouse does is leaves you with the taste for more..that’s not any easy thing to do.. sometimes endings can leave things flat… oh hell no.. not this story…I really do need more.
Lofthouse isn’t one of the best… he IS the best!
There’s only thing to say about this book.. SNAILS! Who knew.. well done to the author for another cracking read.. and whoever designed the cover needs a pay rise 😊
5/5 Stars
It’s only February but I’m tipping this as my pick of 2024 already!
Today I’m reviewing Tense Commandment by Frank Westworth. The Stoner Series Book 10.
Here’s the blurb.
Unconventional assassin JJ Stoner knows better than to accept a personal job from his violently volatile boss. But if your paymaster stalks the hallowed halls of Westminster, and if your girlfriend sells her body to a sordid clientele, and if you kill people for a living, well… sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Very dirty.
A witty mix of hardboiled humour and sinister manipulation. Recommended for readers who enjoy Walter Mosley, Derek Raymond and Don Winslow.
Tense Commandment is a self-contained short story which features characters from the Killing Sisters crime-thriller novels and the Stoner stories. It follows Nine Lies and introduces key characters from A Last Act Of Charity (and takes place quite a while before Charles III ascended, in case you were wondering). With an agile imagination, Tense Commandment can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story without reading the other books. Live dangerously!
Review
JJ Stoner has a special place in my heart I must admit. Tense Commandment is the tenth short story focusing on the events surrounding the witty assassin.
You can quite easily read the series as standalones but I very much believe the dark humour comes through so much clearer if you read them all.. It’s been a while since we’ve seen stoner but from the first page the smile was back on my face.. oh how I’ve missed him.
In this instalment we see the needs of Stoners employer and his more personal life clash a little. The Hardman has a target…but there’s an issue…Stoner isn’t the first to get there..
In typical Stoner style the fun, thought-provoking plot hits quick as we, along with Stoner try and figure out who is behind events and what does this mean for Stoner.. is someone setting him up? Are they after his girlfriend… or is it his employer whose being targeted? And how does he get out of this one with his arse intact?
It was great to see the character Stretch back in the action also… they are very much unconventional friends but boy they like to have some fun!
For fans of the series, it really is the best yet and just adds more depth to Stoner.
I’m not going to spoil the twists and turns but the ending did not disappoint at all.. and we are lucky enough to be given an extra short tale from the author. The short is called “AI”. I’m really not going to say much other than WOW. Westworth has only ever been known to me for one reason.. JJ Stoner.. AI just shows what skills the author really has at being able to take on another subject matter.. Westworth is the King of the short story!
Today I’m going to be reviewing Hunted (Michael Walker Thrillers Book 1) by the awesome Simon Maltman.
Here’s the blurb
1999.
Michael Walker – former IRA soldier, turned MI5 informer – is living in hiding in rural America. A robbery at Walker’s home leads to his rare copy of the Irish Declaration of Independence being sold online. This proves to be the first link in the chain leading to his location being revealed.
Walker’s life is plunged into peril, as an IRA hit squad – led by Marty Sullivan – is dispatched to eliminate him. Sullivan, a former comrade, is out for blood.
Against the political backdrop of a struggling peace process back home, Walker goes on the run across the state of Pennsylvania and forges unlikely allegiances to survive.
Walker seeks help from his former British handlers, but he should have known that any assistance must come at a price.
Walker will not just remain a victim. He must fight back.
The hunted must become the hunter.
Review
I came across Simon quite randomly last year on Instagram and gave his newest release at the time Killer Casting a read. After being impressed I had to get a copy when Hunted was announced!
Michael Walker is a former IRA man.. he left that life behind after struggling with the aftermath of his actions.. the death and destruction brought to innocents during a very turbulent time for many.
He’s been off the radar for sometime but when a relic from his past is stolen it’s only a matter of time that until someone notices it, it’s link to him and comes looking!
Walker does what he does best and tracks down those who stole his property.. but things just get more complicated and he finds himself become close to Brandon, a young man caught up in everything..
Just when you think thinks might work out we find out it’s too late.. things are about to get so much worse.
When it’s clear shit is hitting the fan it’s time for Walker to contact his old handlers.. the issue is they don’t seems to really care.. or do they have other plans for him?
Soon an FBI agent is sent to aid Walker, Amy. She’s smart and a decent shot when needed but they quickly find themselves in deep trouble.. it’s like Walker is a magnet..
The bodies keep piling up and the only way out is to cut off the head of the snake… there’s a bit of a twist thrown in when Walker figures out just how he’s been played but he’s no choice.. it has to end now.
I really enjoyed the plot, and loved Walker..he’s tough that’s bloody clear from the outset but he also has a conscious.. he doesn’t claim to be anything other that what he is..what you see is what you get. He won’t apologise.. he did what he did.. but that doesn’t mean he will stand by while more innocents die.
The flow of the book was flawless! It’s paced so well it’s super easy to enjoy and demolish but that wasn’t the only thing that hooks you in..typically since I read a lot.. you can sometimes tell when an author has shoved in some detail to bulk a section of the story out..or bits that just doesn’t feel right or flow.. that’s not something Simon has issues with.. the development is seamless… the characters and their connections, everything just works and it had me hooked, like sitting in a movie theatre for 3 hours..
I tend to read while I commute to work.. I can’t tell you how much I just wanted to stay on the bus and head back the other way just to keep reading ha.
I do hope there’s more to come as I just feel it can only strengthen the character and it will be epic!
Today is my stop on the blog tour for Protector of Mercia by M. J. Porter!
Here’s the blurb.
A deathbed oath leaves the lives of two infants hanging in the balance.
Tamworth AD833 After successfully rescuing her husband from the Island of Sheppey, Icel hears the deathbed confession of Lady Cynehild which leaves him questioning what he knows about his past, as well as his future.
In the unenviable position of being oath sworn to protect their two atheling sons when Lord Coenwulf is punished and banished for his treason against the Mercian ruler, King Wiglaf, Icel is once more torn between his oaths and the secret he knows.
When the two children are kidnapped, Icel, good to his word, and fearing for their safety, pursues their abductors into the dangerous Northern lands, fearing to discover who is behind the audacious attempt on their lives: the queen, the king’s son, or even Lady Ælflæd, a friend to him in the past, but now wed to the king’s son and aunt to the two abandoned children.
Alone in the Northern lands, Icel finds himself facing his worse fears. Can he rescue the children from their captor, or will he fail and lose his life in the process?
Review
Protector of Mercia is book 5 in The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. The 1st book in the series was published less than 2 years ago but in this time, there’s been so much growth and development I can hardly believe it’s the 5th instalment already!
If you haven’t read the previous instalments I do recommend it but the author has the knack for explaining things as they go nicely so new readers would understand some of the background.. but most definitely do read the others in the series.. they are too good not to read!
We are back with Icel, and he now knows the truth about who is father really is….and that he himself has a claim to the throne. But it’s a throne he doesn’t want.
After the death of Lady Cynehild Icel promised to protect her children.. It might have been a last ditch selfish act from Lady Cynehild but never the less she was right to fear for them. Soon after their father is exiled the boys go missing and Icel has to figure out who took them and where they have been taken….right now the why doesn’t matter…but something just isnt sitting right..if you want these children out of the way why not just kill them?
Protector of Mercia is all about the tension..a tale of a manhunt as Icel uses all his skill and knowledge to find the children.. to keep them safe.. the main issue is who can he trust??
This instalment, like the previous ones is full of action but what I loved about this one more was the pace, it’s a harrowing journey and the author effortlessly puts you in Icel’s position.. the urgency.. the feeling of desperation.. the weariness of the journey.. the pace perfectly matched so you can actually feel how tired Icel must be.
I feel like Icel at times lost sight of everything else other then would the children survive but he needs to find out why they were taken and by whom..but it’s not going to be easy and the journey is taking him further and further away from safety.
Something I really love about this series is the authors knack of transporting you back to events that happened in a previous novel with only a few words, credit to the author that at the mention of Icel’s uncle my mind is instantly flooded with memories from book 1 in the series..This certainly is a series that will stay with you.
Overall this has to be my favourite instalment so far.. its’ one mans tale.. his feelings.. his desperation and desire not to fail. I couldn’t put it down! 5/5 stars.
My thanks go to MJ Porter, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of this ebook in return for my honest review, and to Rachel from http://www.rachelsrandomresources.com for having me on the blog tour! I can honestly say I’ve ordered a kindle copy myself and the paperback will be soon to join my collection too!!!!
MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. They were raised in the shadow of a building that they believed housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia – so their writing destiny was set.
David's Book Blurg 