All Saints Day will be available on digital and on demand. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.
🎬 New Release Spotlight: ALL SAINTS DAY
Some family reunions are more sobering than others…
Mark your calendars: ALL SAINTS DAY arrives on digital and on demand December 2. This darkly funny, emotionally layered story blends dark comedy with family drama in a tight, compelling 99-minute feature. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)
About the Film
When Ronan realizes his oldest brother, Kier, is drinking himself toward disaster, he launches a desperate intervention. But doing so means calling in reinforcements: their estranged priest brother and long-lost sister.
What follows is a chaotic, heartfelt, and unexpectedly humorous Irish family reunion, where old wounds and buried secrets collide in ways no one is prepared for.
The Creative Team
Written by Julianne Homokay Homokay is a multi-talented screenwriter, playwright, performer, director, and musician. With an MFA in Playwriting from UNLV, her work spans numerous full-length plays and musicals.
ALL SAINTS DAY is adapted from her original stage play All Saints in the Old Colony, a 2015 Eugene O’Neill Theater Center semi-finalist that premiered at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis in 2018.
Directed by Matt Aaron Krinsky Krinsky, director, producer, and writer, brings extensive experience across film, theater, and live events. ALL SAINTS DAY marks his feature film directorial debut, introducing his grounded, character-driven approach to the big screen.
Starring
Don Swayze (Ethan Coen’s Honey Don’t!, On Swift Horses, True Blood)
Twang launches Pickle Gift Box for National Pickle Day, November 14. Photo: Twang, used with permission.
Celebrate National Pickle Day with Twang’s Ultimate Pickle Gift Box 🥒
Pickles are having a major moment. According to GrubHub, pickle orders surged 89% in 2023, and pickle-flavored products are popping up everywhere, from Flamin’ Hot® Dill Pickle Cheetos to Jimmy John’s Picklewich. Whether you’re a long-time pickle enthusiast or a recent convert to the briny craze, there’s no denying that America is deep in its dill era. (Twang, 2025)
Pickles and Twang: A Perfect Pair
For Twang, the San Antonio–based salts and seasonings company, pickles aren’t just a passing trend, they’re part of their flavor DNA. Known for bold blends that bring zest to any snack or drink, Twang has long celebrated the tangy, salty joy that pickles bring.
Introducing the Pickle Gift Box
In honor of National Pickle Day (November 14), Twang is launching the Pickle Gift Box, a limited-edition collection packed with pickle-inspired goodies:
🥒 1 Clear Green Fanny Pack
🐶 1 Pickle Dog Keychain
✨ 1 Twang Glitter Sticker
🍸 1 Pickle Drink Rimmer
🧂 1 Pickle Fiesta-Sized Flavored Salt Jar
🌶️ 1 Hot Pickle Snack-Sized Flavored Salt Shaker
🍺 1 Pickle Beer Salt Bottle
🍈 1 Cucumber Chile Lime Beer Salt Bottle
Retailing for $50.00, the gift box is the ultimate treat for anyone who loves all things tangy, crunchy, and crave-worthy.
A Dill-Lightful Deal
From November 1–14, Twang is offering 10% off all pickle products, including the Pickle Gift Box. Use code PICKLEDAY at checkout to claim your discount. (One-time purchases only; offer can’t be combined with other discounts.)
So whether you’re seasoning your snacks, rimming your cocktail glass, or just living your best pickle-loving life, Twang’s got your flavor fix this National Pickle Day.
L-R Clint Frazier, Graeme MacKinnon. Photo By Lyle Bell, used with permission.
Home Front Shares Final Single “Between The Waves” Ahead of Watch It Die Release
This week, Home Front shared their final single, “Between The Waves,” from their upcoming album Watch It Die, out this Friday November 14 via La Vida Es Un Mus. Pre-Order/Pre-Save. (another side, 2025)
A Lifetime of DIY Spirit
For decades, Graeme MacKinnon and Clint Frazier have been deeply embedded in grassroots music-making, community building, and the unpredictable ebbs and flows of DIY punk.
Formed in 2020, Home Front channels their lifetime of experience into a project that feels nostalgic and forward-looking; a sound that moves between the textured sounds of Tangerine Dream and the pounding urgency of an anthem for survival.
Music That Grows Through Change
Home Front’s music holds onto a rare kind of passion, the kind that guides you, like a climbing vine wrapping around both triumphs and losses. Their lyrics and influences are specific yet universal, personal yet accessible.
The new record’s production, guided by a close-knit team of longtime collaborators, reflects their DIY ethos. Recorded in home studios in their hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Watch It Die is a testament to making something powerful out of humble circumstances.
Honest, Danceable, and Deeply Human
Watch It Die is built simply: 12 songs of danceable, hummable, and rousing honesty. The emotion of this LP solidifies these musical notions into meaningful art.
“For us, ultimately, this is music that comes out of loss and heartbreak and failure,” says the band. “You can get rowdy, you can get emotional, you can do whatever you want—but maybe, with all of that freedom, we take a second to reflect on all our fallen brothers and sisters and friends who may have slipped away.”
Finding Light in the Bleak
Rather than asking why or how we got here, Watch It Die offers a step forward, a dose of optimism and self-ownership in dark times. It reminds us that solitude doesn’t have to equal despair, and that wisdom can replace nostalgia as a form of grace.
This album doesn’t shy away from the world’s ills, it owns them, transforming pain into purpose.
Tour Dates
Home Front kick off their West Coast tour next week, including stops in:
San Francisco
Sacramento
Los Angeles’ Palladium (supporting Cock Sparrer on November 22 & 23)
Plus a release show just announced at Knuckleheads on November 22.
Home Front Live Dates:
Nov 20: Sacramento, CA – The Starlet Room Nov 21: San Francisco, CA – Thee Parkside Nov 22: Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium # (SOLD OUT) Nov 22: Los Angeles, CA – Knucklehead (Release Show) Nov 23: Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium ! Dec 13: Winnipeg, MB – The Handsome Daughter + (SOLD OUT) Dec 19: Calgary, AB – Palomino * Dec 20: Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room ^ Feb 6-8: Hague, NL – Grauzone # w/ Cock Sparrer, Dillinger Four, Castillo ! w/ Cock Sparrer, Dillinger Four, Generacion Suicida + Record Release Show w/ Imploders, Pure Impact * Record Release Show w/ CloseTalkers, Puppet Wipes, Poltergeist ^ Record Release Show w/ Languid, Real Sickies
Watch It Die tracklist: 01 – Watch It Die 02 – New Madness 03 – Light Sleeper 04 – Between The Waves 05 – Eulogy 06 – The Vanishing 07 – For The Children (F*ck All) 08 – Kiss The Sky 09 – Always This Way 10 – Dancing With Anxiety 11 – Young Offender 12 – Empire
On Tuesday November 11, H-E-B will distribute gift bags to veterans inside their stores. Photo: H-E-B, used with permission.
Honoring Veterans Day with Chef Nicola Blaque and H-E-B
Every year on November 11, we pause to honor Veterans Day, a time to recognize the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. This day reminds us that freedom comes at a cost, and it’s an opportunity to express gratitude to those who have sacrificed to protect it. From community parades to acts of service and remembrance, Veterans Day is about acknowledging courage, resilience, and dedication that continue to inspire generations.
This year, in celebration of Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, James Beard-nominated chef and U.S. Army veteran Nicola Blaque invites veterans and community members to come together over good food and shared appreciation. (The Jerk Shack/Freight Fried Chicken, 2025)
Celebrate with Chef Nicola Blaque
At her award-winning San Antonio restaurants, The Jerk Shack and Freight Fried Chicken, Chef Blaque is offering a special way to honor veterans, with a comforting fried chicken plate for just $10.
The Jerk Shack will feature its island-style fried chicken paired with bold Caribbean sides like pineapple slaw and masala fries.
Freight Fried Chicken will serve its signature boneless fried chicken plate, highlighting classic Southern flavors with sides such as mac ’n cheese, seasoned fries, and fried corn.
📍 The Jerk Shack 10234 TX-151, Suite 103, San Antonio, TX 78251 🕚 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025
📍 Freight Fried Chicken 312 Pearl Pkwy, Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215 🕙 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025
About Chef Nicola Blaque
Lattoia Nicola Massey, known professionally as Chef Nicola Blaque, is a proud veteran, chef, and restaurateur based in San Antonio, Texas. Her Jamaican-inspired restaurant, The Jerk Shack, quickly became a local favorite after opening in 2018, earning a Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide in 2024.
In early 2024, she expanded her culinary footprint with Freight Fried Chicken, located in the Pearl district, a restaurant that pays homage to the formerly enslaved women who sold fried chicken in post-Civil War Virginia to support themselves and their families.
H-E-B’s Ongoing Commitment to Veterans
On Veterans Day and every day, H-E-B Partners across Texas honor the sacrifices of our nation’s veterans and their families through Operation Appreciation, a companywide initiative launched in 2013. (H-E-B, 2025)
This year, H-E-B stores across the state will distribute gift bags filled with H-E-B brand items and notes of gratitude to veterans both in stores and at local nonprofits such as VFW and American Legion posts.
Through Operation Appreciation, H-E-B has contributed over $17 million to military-based nonprofits in Texas, supported employment for more than 30,000 veterans and military spouses, and even provided mortgage-free homes to severely wounded veterans.
Customers can also give back by purchasing items from the Café Ole by H-E-B Commemorative Collection, with $0.35 from every purchase donated to military nonprofits across Texas.
A Shared Moment of Gratitude
Veterans Day is more than a holiday, it’s a moment to come together as a community to say thank you. Whether through a warm meal, a handwritten note, or a simple act of kindness, every gesture helps honor those who’ve served.
This Veterans Day, celebrate courage, community, and connection, one plate at a time.
In his new book, Rick Tollakson presents his eight principles for success. Photo: Barnes & Noble
Think Bigger, Lead Better: Eight to Great Principles for Organizational Success
A fresh take on leadership from Rick Tollakson
In today’s fast-changing business world, leadership can’t be about playing it safe. The most effective leaders are those who think bigger, challenge assumptions, and inspire others to reach new heights. That’s the central message behind Rick Tollakson’s new book, Think Bigger, Lead Better: Eight to Great Principles for Organizational Success. It’s a practical and inspiring guide to building stronger teams, smarter organizations, and more impactful leaders.
Beyond the Bottom Line
Efficient leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo, it’s about creating meaningful, lasting change.
Drawing from his decades of experience transforming a modest real estate company into a thriving, diversified enterprise, Tollakson shares the “Eight to Great” principles that powered that journey. Through engaging stories and actionable insights, he encourages leaders to move beyond short-term wins and embrace a long-term vision that drives growth and purpose.
Readers will learn how to:
Cultivate passionate, high-performing teams
Encourage innovation and calculated risk-taking
Streamline operations with process-driven thinking
Lead with purpose while balancing profitability and impact
Build a legacy of leadership that outlasts any single role
Think Bigger, Lead Better is a call to action for CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals who refuse to settle for mediocrity. Whether you’re leading a Fortune 500 company or growing a small startup, Tollakson’s proven framework will help you push past limitations and build something truly great.
Are you ready to think bigger?
About the Author
Rick Tollakson is a nationally recognized real estate executive, community leader, and author of Think Bigger, Lead Better: Eight to Great Principles for Organizational Success.
As CEO of Hubbell Realty Company, he has led the organization through transformational growth, expanding its development, construction, property management, and homebuilding operations across Iowa and beyond.
A respected voice in both business and civic circles, Tollakson’s leadership philosophy blends innovation, integrity, and community stewardship. He continues to serve on numerous boards and committees, offering insights that extend far beyond traditional business metrics to include ethical leadership, sustainable development, and meaningful community partnerships.
Why This Book Matters Now
In an era defined by disruption and uncertainty, the need for bold, ethical, and visionary leadership has never been greater. Think Bigger, Lead Better provides the clarity and tools leaders need to navigate change, inspire trust, and create organizations that make a difference.
If you’re ready to elevate your leadership and build a culture of excellence, this book is your next essential read.
📘 Learn more or order your copy of Think Bigger, Lead Better wherever books are sold.
Strangers in a Car Park will be available on digital and on demand on November 11, 2025. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.
New Movie Spotlight: Strangers in a Car Park
🎬 Strangers in a Car Park
The truth will always come to light
Available On Digital and On Demand – November 11
Written and Directed by: Stuart McBratney
Starring: Brenton Prince (Home and Away, Underbelly), Lawrence Ola (Upright, Wellmania, face of STEP ONE underwear), and Arnijka Larcombe-Weate (Boy Swallows Universe)
When a cleaning lady spots a celebrated surfer being honored with a medal for heroism, her world comes crashing down. She recognizes him as the man who assaulted her years ago. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)
With only a streetwise courier by her side, she sets out to expose the truth, risking everything to confront the man who’s built his life on lies.
Strangers in a Car Park is an unflinching and unorthodox drama about memory, justice, and the lies we tell ourselves and others.
Release Date: November 11 Watch: On Digital & On Demand
Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.
An indoor pow wow at the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival
San Antonio, TX — The Briscoe Western Art Museuminvites the community to honor Native American Heritage Month at the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum’s beautiful campus along the San Antonio River Walk. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2025)
This annual celebration is free and open to the public, offering a full day of art, music, dance, storytelling, hands-on crafts, and cultural connections for all ages. Festival admission, museum access, and all activities are included at no cost. 👉 Free registration is available online.
A Day Full of Culture, Art, and Connection
Throughout the day, guests can:
Enjoy arts and crafts for all ages
Meet and learn from Native artists and performers
Experience music, storytelling, and dance rooted in Native traditions
Explore the Briscoe’s galleries for free
Festival Highlights
Opening Blessing and Drum Circle
A spiritual blessing by United San Antonio Pow Wow, Inc., an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Native American traditions.
A Pow Wow-style drum circle and dance demonstration by United San Antonio Pow Wow and Enemy Horse Drumming, showcasing the meaning and movement behind pow wow styles.
Storytelling and Music
Joyous Windrider and Rosie Torres bring Native stories to life through storytelling and movement.
Enjoy live music from Tim Blueflint Ramel, an award-winning flute player and member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa. Ramel has shared the stage with Grammy Award–winner Mary Youngblood and will also demonstrate flute and jewelry making throughout the day.
Traditional Arts and Demonstrations
George Curtis Levi shares ledger art, a Cheyenne tradition dating back to the 1840s that uses repurposed record book pages to depict daily life. Levi, a member of the Southern Cheyenne, also has ties to the Arapaho and Oglala Lakota tribes.
Chase Kahwinhut Earles, a Caddo Nation artist, demonstrates traditional Caddo pottery techniques, reviving a centuries-old art form celebrated for its authenticity and cultural depth.
Shane Hendren, a Diné/Navajo jewelry maker and turquoise expert, showcases his intricate work and commitment to the integrity of Native craftsmanship.
Wayne TaySha Earles, a Caddo stone carver, presents cultural stonework and jewelry inspired by ancient Caddo artifacts from the Spiro Mounds in Oklahoma.
Hands-On Crafts and Family Fun
Festival guests can create their own:
Ledger art and mixed media collages
Leather medallions
Basket and loom weaving projects
Community weaving basket
Parfleche cases — traditional painted pouches made from rawhide, once used by Plains Indians for both beauty and practicality
Visitors can also browse and purchase Native artwork directly from the artists, including jewelry, pottery, beadwork, and textiles.
Honoring the Yanaguana Legacy
The festival’s name, “Yanaguana,” comes from the Payaya people, who were indigenous to the San Antonio area. It was their word for what we now know as the San Antonio River.
Held annually since the Briscoe’s opening, the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival celebrates the vital role of Native Americans in shaping the West. It’s a day to learn, connect, and appreciate the vibrant living cultures that continue to inspire the region today.
📅 Date: Saturday, November 8 🕙 Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 📍 Location: Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio River Walk 💲 Admission: Free (including museum entry and activities) 🔗 Register: [Free event registration available online]
Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
Toby Gad ushers in the season with his first holiday album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
🎹 Toby Gad Unveils Piano Diaries – Christmas: A New Chapter in Holiday Music
GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Toby Gad releases Piano Diaries – Christmas on November 7, a deeply personal, all-original holiday album featuring Jordin Sparks, Victoria Justice, Loren Allred, and more.
Los Angeles, CA — After decades shaping some of pop music’s most defining hits, GRAMMY®-winning and Diamond-certified songwriter Toby Gad turns inward this season with the release of his first all-original holiday album, Piano Diaries – Christmas, available on all digital platforms November 7. Pre-save here. (Miller PR, 2025)
Known for writing emotional powerhouses like John Legend’s “All Of Me,” Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy,” and Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” Gad now turns his songwriting lens toward the most nostalgic and heartfelt season of the year.
✨ A Modern Holiday Songbook
Each song on Piano Diaries – Christmas was born from authentic, intimate collaboration. Gad invited twelve world-class vocalists to sit at the piano and transform their most personal holiday memories into original songs. The result is a modern seasonal songbook that blends intimacy and sophistication through piano, orchestral, and vocal performances.
The twelve-track collection features performances by:
Jordin Sparks (American Idol)
Victoria Justice (TV star and pop singer)
Loren Allred (The Greatest Showman)
Megan McKenna (Celeb-X winner)
Michael Huntley (The Voice Season 24 winner)
Louisa Johnson (X-Factor winner)
Anthony Gargiula (TikTok sensation)
Sam Ryder (Eurovision star) …and more.
🎶 Stories Told in Song
A deeply personal project, Piano Diaries – Christmas radiates warmth and reflection. Each track unfolds like an entry in Gad’s musical journal: intimate, cinematic, and timeless.
“With Piano Diaries – Christmas, I wanted to create a timeless soundtrack that feels like a letter to the season itself. Every song carries a personal story of the artist singing it, and each performance reflects a sentimental truth about their own experience of the holidays.” – Toby Gad
The album strikes a rare balance between reverence and reinvention:
Jordin Sparks’ “Christmas Takes Me Back Home” and Michael Huntley’s “Mama Made Christmas” channel nostalgia and family tradition.
Megan McKenna’s “Feels Like Hallelujah” and Anthony Gargiula’s “Fall in Love with Christmas” radiate pure joy.
Victoria Justice’s “Blessed” and Dionne Bromfield’s “Christmas For One” bring emotional depth and quiet introspection.
Together, they capture the many shades of the holiday season.
🎄 Release Details
Piano Diaries – Christmas will be available November 7 on all streaming platforms via Kite Records. A limited-edition vinyl will also be sold at The London Shard, accompanied by two exclusive Christmas Live performances on December 15 and 16.
🎵 About Toby Gad
Toby Gad is a GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter and producer based in Los Angeles, celebrated for crafting timeless pop anthems across genres from pop and R&B to rock. His catalog of hits spans decades and includes collaborations with some of the biggest artists in the world.
Beyond his chart-topping success, Gad has expanded into filmmaking, directing and producing documentaries centered on environmental causes close to his heart.
With Piano Diaries – Christmas, Gad steps into the spotlight under his own name, creating an original and heartfelt collection that feels destined to join the canon of modern holiday classics.
Piano Diaries – Christmas Tracklist:
Joelle James – “Kiss Me for Christmas”
Loren Allred – “What a Wonderful Night”
Huntley – “Mama Made Christmas”
Sam Ryder – “Holy Night”
Megan McKenna – “Feels Like Hallelujah”
Gavin James – “We’ve Really Loved Someone”
Louisa Johnson – “Follow the Stars”
Victoria Justice – “Blessed”
Jordin Sparks – “Christmas Takes Me Back Home”
Dionne Bromfield – “Christmas For One”
Anthony Gargiula – “Fall in Love with Christmas” Bonus Track:
The final PechaKucha of 2025 will take place this Thursday November 6. Photo: PechaKucha San Antonio, used with permission.
PechaKucha San Antonio Closes Out 2025 with Volume 47 at the Tobin Center
SAN ANTONIO, TX —PechaKucha San Antonio, the global arts and culture series known for its fast-paced storytelling format, is excited to announce Volume 47— the final event in its 2025 series. (PechaKucha San Antonio, 2025)
📅 Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025 📍 Location: Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, San Antonio, TX 78205 🕕 Schedule:
6:30 p.m. — Welcome Reception
7:30 p.m. — Presentations Begin
A Night of Creativity at the Tobin Center
Nestled along the banks of the San Antonio River, the historic Tobin Center is a downtown landmark that blends its original facade with a state-of-the-art performance space. This beautifully restored venue has become a beacon of creativity, fine art, and urban revitalization and it’s the perfect setting for PechaKucha’s final 2025 event.
Meet the Volume 47 Presenters
This edition of PechaKucha San Antonio will spotlight seven inspiring local voices, each sharing their passions through the signature 20×20 format — 20 images, 20 seconds each.
✨ The evening’s emcee will be Naomi Shihab Nye, San Antonio–based poet, educator, editor, and former Poet Laureate.
Music, Food, and Community
The welcome reception will feature live music by Kitten Mitten, a band of animal-loving friends turning their pets’ antics into anthems, blending heart and humor to amplify both furry and human voices that too often go unheard.
Guests will enjoy complimentary bites from local favorites including: 🍽 Liberty Bar • Tio Pelon’s Salsita • Cheesy Jane’s • Bakery Lorraine • Tobin Catering
The Tobin Center will also offer drinks and cocktails for purchase throughout the night.
Tickets
🎟 Tickets: $10 per person 🔗 Purchase here:Tobin Center
About PechaKucha
PechaKucha (pronounced PEH-chuh KOO-chuh) is a global arts and culture event where presenters share their passions through 20 images x 20 seconds — a total of 6 minutes and 40 seconds per talk.
The format was created by Klein Dytham Architecture in Tokyo in 2003 to encourage creative professionals to share ideas in a concise and engaging way. Since then, PechaKucha has grown to over 1,200 cities worldwide.
San Antonio hosted its first PechaKucha Night in February 2011 and now attracts hundreds of attendees each quarter, featuring architects, artists, makers, academics, community leaders, and more.
About the Author Robbie Bach is a bestselling author and former tech executive who helped lead Microsoft through some of its most dynamic years. As the Chief Xbox Officer, he spearheaded the creation of the iconic Xbox and Xbox 360. After retiring from Microsoft, Bach turned his focus to philanthropy, civic advocacy, and storytelling.
In his latest novel, The Blockchain Syndicate, Bach continues the gripping saga of Senator Tamika Smith as she battles a cryptic conspiracy threatening America’s financial and political foundations. With sharp insights into both technology and public life, he brings a unique perspective to some of the most urgent issues of our time.
Story Overview It’s the first day back at Aragon High School in San Francisco after the holiday break. Phoenix Humboldt is sitting outside during study hall with her friend Vanessa, reading The Iceman Cometh, when shots ring out. Acting on instinct, she rushes to help her friends.
Meanwhile, Senator Tamika Smith receives an email threatening to expose her past, an ultimatum from someone she believed was dead. “The glow from her computer monitor illuminated the angry scowl on her face.”
At the same time, Johnny Humboldt, Tamika’s significant other, is stopped by a supposed FBI agent at the airport and whisked away to see his daughter, Phoenix, who’s been injured in the shooting. Soon after, a personal crisis spirals into a national conspiracy. Johnny’s kidnapping becomes part of a larger plot to destroy Tamika and destabilize the country she loves.
The attacks are professional and coordinated, driven by someone who sees America as broken and intends to “fix” it their way. The intent is to destabilize the country through a financial collapse.
Review In The Blockchain Syndicate, Robbie Bach delivers a fast-paced techno-thriller that feels chillingly close to reality. Set against the backdrop of political turmoil and digital warfare, the novel plunges readers into a world of blackmail and high-stakes power struggles.
Bach’s intricate plotting and insider knowledge of political systems lend authenticity to the chaos. The short, sharp chapters and tense prose make it impossible to put down. As one line summarizes it: “Like a psychological boomerang, he’d grown to hate his father but internalized the need to win at all costs.”
Tamika Smith remains a compelling protagonist, intelligent, honorable, and deeply human. Her flaws and emotional depth make her relatable, while her courage keeps readers rooting for her.
Bach’s second installment in the Tamika Smith series (following The Wilkes Insurrection) blends political intrigue with a cautionary look at technology’s dark potential. Whether you’ve read the first book or not, this one stands strong on its own.
Final Thoughts The Blockchain Syndicate is a gripping thriller and a sobering reflection on the fragility of truth in a hyperconnected world. Fans of Brad Thor, David Baldacci, and strong female leads will find plenty to enjoy here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A timely and thought-provoking political thriller.
“But over time, he realized that the normal political calculus had changed in fundamental ways. One plus one no longer equaled two. In fact, there were very few pluses to be found.”
*Thank you to Fauzia Burke/FSB Associates for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
SA Examiner 